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.Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–46
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 pressure hull plating instead of 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 .Vampire-class Submarines
It was one of this class, , that is the only submarine to sink another submarine while submerged - that submarine was the German .
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. - sold to Norway in 1946, renamed as Utstein HMS Viking (P69) HMS Veldt (P71), completed as Pipinos (Y8)
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 Voracious (P78) HMS Vulpine (P79) - Transferred to the Royal Danish Navy after the war as U2 HMS Varne (P81)
HMS Urtica (P83) HMS Vineyard (P84), completed as HMS Variance (P85), completed as HNoMS Utsira , transferred to Greece in 1945 as HMS Vortex (P87), completed as 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 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. cancelled HMS Unbridled (P11), cancelled 20 November 1943 (never laid down) HMS Upward (P16), cancelled 20 November 1943 (never laid down) Eight more unnamed boats
Notes
References
Allied Warships – Submarine – V class