British V-class submarine

The British V-class submarine (officially "U-Class Long hull 1941–42 programme") was a class of submarines built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

History

Forty-two vessels were ordered to this design, all to be built by Vickers-Armstrong at either Barrow-in-Furness or at Walker-on-Tyne, but only 22 were completed. Note that seven of these vessels received 'U' names (conversely, four of the U class had received names beginning with 'V').

The V-class submarines were very similar to the preceding U-class (short-hull) boats, of which they constituted a linear development, but had 3⁄4-inch (19 mm) pressure hull plating instead of 1⁄2-inch (13 mm) for deeper diving, also a lengthened stern and fining at the bow to reduce noise and improve underwater handling.

They were sometimes referred to as Vampire-class submarines after HMS Vampire.

It was one of this class, HMS Venturer, that is the only submarine to sink another submarine while submerged - that submarine was the German U-864.

Ships

The vessels which were ordered are shown below in their programme order (not all completed construction):

The first eight vessels were ordered on 5 December 1941 under that year's programme.

HMS Venturer (P68) - sold to Norway in 1946, renamed as Utstein

HMS Viking (P69)

HMS Veldt (P71), completed as Pipinos (Y8)

HMS Vampire (P72)

HMS Vox (P73)

HMS Vigorous (P74)

HMS Virtue (P75)

HMS Visigoth (P76)

The next eighteen vessels were ordered on 21 May 1942 under that year's programme, but six of these were cancelled in early 1944.

HMS Vivid (P77)

HMS Voracious (P78)

HMS Vulpine (P79) - Transferred to the Royal Danish Navy after the war as U2

HMS Varne (P81)

HMS Upshot (P82)

HMS Urtica (P83)

HMS Vineyard (P84), completed as French submarine Doris (P84)

HMS Variance (P85), completed as HNoMS Utsira

HMS Vengeful (P86), transferred to Greece in 1945 as Greek submarine Delfin (Y-9)

HMS Vortex (P87), completed as French submarine Morse (P87)

cancelled

HMS Veto (P88), cancelled 23 January 1944 and scrapped on the slip

HMS Virile (P89), cancelled 23 January 1944 and scrapped on the slip

HMS Visitant (P91), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)

HMS Upas (P92), cancelled February 1944 and scrapped on the slip

HMS Ulex (P93), cancelled February 1944 (never laid down)

HMS Utopia (P94), cancelled February 1944 (never laid down)

HMS Virulent (P95)

HMS Volatile (P96)

A further six vessels were ordered on 17 November 1942 under the same year's programme, but four of these were cancelled on 23 January 1944.

HMS Votary (P29)

HMS Vagabond (P18)

cancelled

HMS Vantage, cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)

HMS Vehement (P25), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)

HMS Venom (P27), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)

HMS Verve (P28), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)

Finally, a further ten vessels were ordered under the 1943 Programme, but all of these were cancelled on 20 November 1943; eight of these were never given names.