HMS G6
| Company type | Submarine |
|---|---|
| Industry | Naval military service |
| Founded | 1915 |
| Fate | Sold for dismantling in 1921 |
Key people | Royal Navy |
| Products | Submarine |
Number of employees | 30 (complement) |
HMS G6 was a British G-class submarine constructed for service with the Royal Navy during World War I.
Description
The G-class submarines were developed by the Admiralty as a countermeasure to reports suggesting that Germany was producing double-hulled submarines intended for extended overseas missions. These vessels measured 187 feet 1 inch (57.0 m) in overall length, had a 22 feet 8 inches (6.9 m) beam, and a mean draft of 13 feet 4 inches (4.1 m). Their surface displacement was 703 long tons (714 t), increasing to 837 long tons (850 t) when submerged. Each submarine housed a complement of 30 officers and enlisted men and featured a partial double hull design.
For propulsion on the surface, the submarines utilized two 800 brake horsepower (597 kW) Vickers two-stroke diesel engines, each connected to its own propeller shaft. When submerged, propulsion switched to electric motors rated at 420 horsepower (310 kW) per shaft. The maximum speeds achieved were 14.25 knots (26.39 km/h; 16.40 mph) surfaced and 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) underwater. Their operational range was approximately 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at a cruising speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) while surfaced.
Initially, the armament plan included a single 21-inch (53.3 cm) torpedo tube positioned in the bow and two 18-inch (45 cm) tubes mounted on the sides. This configuration was altered during construction: the 21-inch tube was relocated to the stern, and two additional 18-inch tubes were installed in the bow. Consequently, the submarines carried a total of two 21-inch torpedoes and eight 18-inch torpedoes. Additionally, each vessel was equipped with one 3 inches (7.6 cm) deck gun for surface combat.
Career
Similar to her fellow vessels in the class, G6 was assigned to monitor a sector of the North Sea with the objective of detecting German U-boats. She remained operational through the duration of the conflict and was ultimately sold for dismantling in 1921.
Notes
References
- Template:Cite Colledge2006
- 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.
- McCartney, Innes (2008). British Submarines of World War I. New Vanguard. Vol. 145. Oxford, UK: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84603-334-6.