HMS L2

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HMS L2 by Francis Dodd
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS L2
BuilderVickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness
Laid down18 May 1916
Launched6 July 1917
Commissioned18 December 1917
FateSold for scrapping, March 1930
General characteristics
Class and typeL-class submarine
Displacement
  • 891 long tons (905 t) surfaced
  • 1,074 long tons (1,091 t) submerged
Length231 ft 1 in (70.4 m)
Beam23 ft 6 in (7.2 m)
Draught13 ft 3 in (4.0 m)
Installed power
  • 2,400 bhp (1,800 kW) (diesel)
  • 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph) surfaced
  • 10.5 kn (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) submerged
Range3,800 nmi (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) on the surface
Test depth100 feet (30.5 m)
Complement35
Armament

HMS L2 was a L-class submarine built for the Royal Navy during World War I.

Design and description

The L-class boats were enlarged and improved versions of the preceding

draught of 13 feet 3 inches (4.0 m). They displaced 891 long tons (905 t) on the surface and 1,074 long tons (1,091 t) submerged. The L-class submarines had a crew of 35 officers and ratings.[1]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 12-cylinder

propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 600-horsepower (447 kW) electric motor.[1] They could reach 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) on the surface and 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) underwater.[3] On the surface, the L class had a range of 3,200 nautical miles (5,900 km; 3,700 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[1]

The boats were armed with a total of six

anti-aircraft gun, but this was later replaced by a 4-inch (102 mm) deck gun.[5]

Construction and career

Originally

commissioned
on 18 December 1917.

During

Berehaven, Ireland.[6] The force commander of British submarines, Captain Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, commended L2 and the destroyers for the action in his report on the incident. Admiral Lewis Bayly, the Royal Navy′s Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland, in his endorsement of Nasmith′s report, wrote, "Had L-2 not been very skillfully and coolly handled, she would have been lost. The U. S. destroyers deserve great credit for their smartness in attack, and for their quickness in recognizing the submarine as British."[6]

L2 was assigned to the 4th Submarine Flotilla and HMS Titania in 1919 and proceeded to Hong Kong, arriving on 14 April 1920, She was placed in the Reserve Flotilla in Hong Kong in 1923. She was sold in March 1930, and arrived in April 1930 at Thos. W. Ward, Grays, Essex, England, for breaking-up.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Gardiner & Gray, p. 93
  2. ^ Harrison, Chapter 25
  3. ^ Harrison, Chapters 3
  4. ^ Harrison, Chapter 27
  5. ^ Akermann, p. 165
  6. ^ a b Doughty, Leonard, Jr., Lieutenant Commander, "Mistaken Attacks in the World War," Proceedings, October 1934.

References

  • Akermann, Paul (2002). Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955 (reprint of the 1989 ed.). Penzance, Cornwall: Periscope Publishing.
    ISBN 1-904381-05-7
    .
  • ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8
    .
  • Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.
    ISBN 0-85177-245-5
    .
  • Harrison, A. N. (January 1979). "The Development of HM Submarines From Holland No. 1 (1901) to Porpoise (1930) (BR3043)". RN Subs. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
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