HMS G2 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
NameG2
BuilderChatham Dockyard
Laid down1 October 1914
Launched23 December 1915
Commissioned18 March 1916
FateSold for scrap, 16 January 1920 to Fryer, Sunderland.
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

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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]

Career

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Like the rest of her class, G2's role was to patrol an area of the North Sea in search of German U-boats. On 27 October 1918,[2] she torpedoed and sank the German submarine U-78 in the North Sea.[3] She survived the war and was sold for scrap in 1920.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Gardiner & Gray, p. 90
  2. ^ "WWI U-boats". uboat.net. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  3. ^ "German War Memorial Website". Retrieved 16 November 2017.

References

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