HMS H42
| Company type | Submarine |
|---|---|
| Industry | Naval military vessel |
| Founded | September 1917 |
| Founder | Armstrong Whitworth |
| Defunct | March 23, 1922 |
| Fate | Sunk after collision with destroyer HMS Versatile |
| Headquarters | Newcastle Upon Tyne , United Kingdom |
| Products | H-class submarines |
HMS H42: Overview and Incident
HMS H42 was a British H-class submarine constructed by Armstrong Whitworth, located in Newcastle Upon Tyne. The vessel's keel was laid in September 1917, and it officially entered service on 1 May 1919.
On 23 March 1922, while under the command of Royal Navy Lieutenant Douglas Staley, H42 was engaged in torpedo attack exercises against British destroyers near Europa Point, Gibraltar. During these maneuvers, the submarine unexpectedly surfaced approximately 30 to 120 yards (27 to 110 metres) ahead of the destroyer HMS Versatile—accounts vary regarding the exact distance. At that moment, Versatile, traveling at a speed of 20 knots, reversed engines to full speed astern and turned hard to port. However, before the helm could fully respond, the destroyer collided with H42 just behind the conning tower, nearly severing the submarine. The collision caused H42 to sink rapidly, resulting in the tragic loss of all 24 crew members aboard.
Following an inquiry into the incident, responsibility was attributed to H42 for surfacing contrary to established orders.
Design
Following the model of all post-H20 British H-class submarines, H42 displaced 423 long tons (430 t) when surfaced and 510 long tons (520 t) while submerged. The vessel measured 171 feet (52 m) in length, had a beam spanning 15 feet 4 inches (4.67 m), and a draught of 12 metres (39 ft). Propulsion was provided by diesel engines generating a combined output of 480 horsepower (360 kW), supplemented by two electric motors each delivering 320 horsepower (240 kW). Utilizing these electric motors, the submarine could achieve speeds up to 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) underwater. Typically, it carried 16.4 long tons (16.7 t) of fuel, with a maximum storage capacity reaching 18 long tons (18 t).
On the surface, H42 could reach a top speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph), while its submerged speed peaked at 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph). Post-H20 British H-class submarines were capable of covering ranges up to 2,985 nautical miles (5,528 km; 3,435 mi) at a cruising speed of 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) on the surface. Armament included an anti-aircraft gun and four 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes positioned at the bow, loaded with eight torpedoes of the same diameter. Although classified as a Holland 602 type submarine, it was specifically engineered to conform to Royal Navy requirements. The crew complement consisted of twenty-two personnel.