HMS L52

HMS L52 was a late-model L-class submarine built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. The boat was not completed before the end of the war and was sold for scrap in 1935.

L52
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS L52
BuilderArmstrong Whitworth, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Laid down16 May 1917
Launched18 December 1918
FateSold for scrap, September 1935
General characteristics
Class and typeL-class submarine
Displacement
  • 960 long tons (980 t) surfaced
  • 1,150 long tons (1,170 t) submerged
Length235 ft (71.6 m)
Beam23 ft 6 in (7.2 m)
Draught13 ft 2 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
Range4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on the surface
Test depth150 feet (45.7 m)
Complement44
Armament

Design and description

L52 and its successors were modified to maximise the number of 21-inch (53.3 cm) torpedoes carried in the bow. The submarine had a length of 235 feet (71.6 m) overall, a beam of 23 feet 6 inches (7.2 m) and a mean draft of 13 feet 2 inches (4.0 m).[1] They displaced 960 long tons (980 t) on the surface and 1,150 long tons (1,170 t) submerged. The L-class submarines had a crew of 44 officers and ratings.[2] They had a diving depth of 150 feet (45.7 m).[3]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 12-cylinder Vickers[4] 1,200-brake-horsepower (895 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 600-horsepower (447 kW) electric motor. 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. On the surface, the L class had a range of 4,200 nautical miles (7,800 km; 4,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[1]

The boats were armed with six 21-inch torpedo tubes in the bow. They carried eight reload torpedoes for a grand total of a dozen torpedoes.[5] They were also armed with two 4-inch (102 mm) deck guns.[2]

Construction and career

HMS L52 was laid down on 16 May 1917 by Armstrong Whitworth at their Newcastle-Upon-Tyne shipyard, launched on 18 December 1918, and completed on 18 January 1921. The boat was sold for scrap in September 1935, but was wrecked off Barry, South Wales.

Notes
  1. Gardiner & Gray, p. 94
  2. Akermann, p. 165
  3. Harrison, Chapter 11
  4. Harrison, Chapter 25
  5. Harrison, Chapter 27

References
  • Akermann, Paul (2002). Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955 (reprint of the 1989 ed.). Penzance, Cornwall: Periscope Publishing. ISBN 1-904381-05-7.
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. 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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