HMS G10 was a British G-class submarine built for the Royal Navy during World War I.

A G-class submarine before bow modification.
History
United Kingdom
NameG10
BuilderVickers
Laid down12 March 1915
Launched11 January 1916
Commissioned12 April 1916
FateSold, 20 January 1923 to J Smith
General characteristics
Class and typeG-class submarine
Displacement
  • 703 long tons (714 t) surfaced
  • 837 long tons (850 t) submerged
Length187 ft 1 in (57.0 m)
Beam22 ft 8 in (6.9 m)
Draught13 ft 4 in (4.1 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed
  • 14.25 knots (26.39 km/h; 16.40 mph) surfaced
  • 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) submerged
Range2,400 nmi (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 12.5 kn (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph) surfaced
Complement30
Armament

Description edit

The G-class submarines were designed by the Admiralty in response to a rumour that the Germans were building double-hulled submarines for overseas duties. The submarines had a length of 187 feet 1 inch (57.0 m) overall, a beam of 22 feet 8 inches (6.9 m) and a mean draft of 13 feet 4 inches (4.1 m). They displaced 703 long tons (714 t) on the surface and 837 long tons (850 t) submerged. The G-class submarines had a crew of 30 officers and ratings. They had a partial double hull.[1]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 800-brake-horsepower (597 kW) Vickers two-stroke diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 420-horsepower (313 kW) electric motor. They could reach 14.25 knots (26.39 km/h; 16.40 mph) on the surface and 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) underwater. On the surface, the G class had a range of 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[1]

The boats were intended to be armed with one 21-inch (53.3 cm) torpedo tube in the bow and two 18-inch (45 cm) torpedo tubes on the beam. This was revised, however, while they were under construction, the 21-inch tube was moved to the stern and two additional 18-inch tubes were added in the bow. They carried two 21-inch and eight 18-inch torpedoes. The G-class submarines were also armed with a single 3-inch (7.6 cm) deck gun.[1]

Construction and career edit

Like the rest of her class, G10's role was to patrol an area of the North Sea in search of German U-boats. While on exercises, the submarine collided with a merchant vessel resulting in the destruction of the bridge and the periscopes.[2] On 3 June 1916, following the Battle of Jutland, HMS Titania instructed G10 to locate and sink floating remains of Invincible to prevent the capture of materials.[3] The submarine survived the war, and was sold for scrap in 1923.

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c Gardiner & Gray, p. 90
  2. ^ Tall, J.J; Paul Kemp (1996). HM Submarines in Camera: An Illustrated History of British Submarines. Sutton Publishing. p. 50. ISBN 0-7509-0875-0.
  3. ^ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 28

References edit