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HMSK13

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A painting ofK22,the formerK13,in drydock
History
United Kingdom
NameHMSK13
OrderedAugust 1915
BuilderFairfield Shipbuilders,Glasgow
Launched11 November 1916
FateSold for scrapping 16 December 1926 inSunderland
General characteristics
Class and typeK-class submarine
Displacement
  • 1,980tonssurfaced
  • 2,566 tons submerged
Length339 ft (103 m)
Beam26 ft 6 in (8.08 m)
Draught20 ft 11 in (6.38 m)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 24knots(44 km/h; 28 mph) surfaced
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
Range
  • Surfaced:
  • 800nautical miles(1,500 km; 920 mi) at maximum speed
  • 12,500 nautical miles (23,200 km; 14,400 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
  • Submerged:
  • 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
  • 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph)
Complement59 (6 officers and 53 ratings)
Armament
  • 4 ×18 inch (450 mm)beam torpedo tubes
  • 4 × 18 in (450 mm) bow tubes, plus 8 spare torpedoes
  • 2 × 4 in (102 mm) guns
  • 1 × 3 in (76 mm) gun
  • 2 × 18 in (450 mm) deck tubes originally fitted, but later removed

HMSK13was a steam-propelledFirst World WarK classsubmarineof theRoyal Navy.She sank in a fatal accident during sea trials in early 1917 and wassalvagedand recommissioned asHMSK22.

Design and construction

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In early 1915, a requirement arose for a new type of fast submarines capable of operating with theGrand Fleet,which would operate ahead of the fleet in conjunction with the fleet's cruisers and attack an enemy force before the battleships would engage. The submarines would need a speed of at least 21 knots on the surface in the rough waters of theNorth Sea,with this being beyond the capability of conventional diesel-powered submarines.[1][2]To meet this requirement, a 1913 design for a steam-powered submarine by theAdmiralty'sDirector of Naval Constructionwas passed toVickersfor detailed design.[3]

The submarines were 339 ft (103.33 m)long overalland 328 ft 6 in (100.13 m)between perpendiculars,with abeamof26 ft6+3⁄4in (8.10 m) and a surfaceddraughtof 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m).[4]Displacementwas 1,980 long tons (2,010 t) on the surface and 2,566 long tons (2,607 t) submerged.[2]TwoYarrow water-tube boilersfed steam at 235 psi (1,620 kPa) to two sets of Brown-Curtisimpulse steam turbinesrated at 10,500 shp (7,800 kW) which drove two propeller shafts. This gave a design speed on the surface of 24 kn (28 mph; 44 km/h). Submerged, the submarine was propelled by four electric motors rated at 1,440 bhp (1,070 kW) which gave a design speed of 9–9.5 kn (10.4–10.9 mph; 16.7–17.6 km/h) which corresponded to a sea speed of about 8 kn (9.2 mph; 15 km/h). An 800 bhp (600 kW) auxiliary diesel engine was fitted to power the submarine on the surface when the steam plant was unavailable (for example when the submarine had just surfaced and steam was being raised). This engine drove a dynamo which powered the electric motors or charged the batteries.[2][5]

The steam engines required large openings in the pressure hull, with two funnels and four air intakes, which had to be closed off and made watertight before the submarine submerged. The funnels hinged into the submarine's superstructure and the openings by the funnels and air intakes sealed by electrically operated valves.[4][6]The submarine had a range on the surface of 12,500 nmi (14,400 mi; 23,200 km) at 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h) (powered by the diesel engine) or 800 nmi (920 mi; 1,500 km) at full power. The submerged endurance was much less than expected, 8 nmi (9.2 mi; 15 km) at 8 kn (9.2 mph; 15 km/h) and 30 nmi (35 mi; 56 km) at 4 kn (4.6 mph; 7.4 km/h).[5]

Ten18 inch (450 mm)torpedo tubes were fitted, with four bow tubes, four beam tubes and two on a revolving mount on the superstructure, A total of 18 torpedoes were carried. Gun armament consisted of two 4 inch (102 mm) guns and one 3-inch (76 mm) anti-aircraft gun. Once in service, the ships proved to be very wet on the surface, with the bow tending to dig down, and one of the 4-inch guns and the revolving torpedo-tube mount was removed.[2]The normal crew was 59 officers and other ranks.[2]

K13was one of 12 K-class submarines ordered in August 1915, following on from the first 2 ordered in June that year.[4]She waslaid downatFairfield'sGovanshipyard in October 1915 asYard number522, and waslaunchedon 11 November 1916.[7][8]

Accident

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On 29 January 1917,K13was undergoing final pre-acceptance trials in theGareloch,Dunbartonshire,Scotland. During a dive in the morning, a small leak had been reported in the boiler rooms, so a second dive was programmed for the afternoon. All boiler room vents were opened to clear the boiler room of steam to aid searching for the leaks. At about 3:00 pm, the submarine went to diving stations, and after confirming that the engine room had been shut off, the submarine was dived.[9][10]She had 80 people on board - 53 crew, 14 employees of the shipbuilders, five sub-contractors, five Admiralty officials, Joseph Duncan, aRiver Clydepilot, Commander Francis Goodhart and engineering officer, Lieutenant Leslie Rideal, both from her sister shipK14,which was still under construction.[11]

As she dived, seawater was seen to be enteringK13's engine room, and the submarine's commanding officer,Lieutenant-CommanderGodfrey Herbertordered watertight doors to be shut andballast tanksto be blown to bring the submarine to the surface, and then the drop keels released. Despite this, the dive could not be stopped and the submarine was soon stuck fast on the bottom of the Gareloch.[12][10][13]The crew ofE50,another submarine undergoing trials on the Gareloch, watchedK13dive and became concerned that the dive did not "look right" and raised the alarm.[14]Two men were seen on the surface by Annie MacIntyre, a maid in a hotel a mile or so away, but her report was ignored.[15]

A message capsule sent up from the submarine

The first rescue vessel, the torpedo gunboatGossamerhad started searching forK13using grapples by 23:00. Attempts to send divers down were delayed sinceGossamerhad a diving-suit but no diver, and when a diver arrived from Fairfields, he was nearly drowned when the suit, which had not been used for years, burst.[14]Despite the lack of proper escape apparatus, Herbert, and the commander ofK14,Commander Goodhart, attempted an escape to the surface by using the space between the inner and outer hatches of theconning toweras anairlock.[16][17]Herbert reached the surface alive, but Goodhart's body was later found trapped in the wheelhouse.[16][12][10]

Once at the surface, Herbert was able to co-ordinate rescue efforts, and later that afternoon an airline was connected, which allowed the ballast tanks to be blown and by midday on 31 January the bows had been brought to just above the surface and supported by abargeon each side. A hole was cut through her pressure hull, and at 22:00 the final survivor was rescued from the submarine.[18]32 people died in the accident and 48 were rescued.[15][19]31 bodies were expected to be still on the submarine, but only 29 were found, and it was concluded that the maid had indeed seen two people escaping from the engine room. They were later identified as Engineer-Lieutenant Arthur Lane and Fairfield foreman John Steel. Lane's body was recovered from the Clyde two months later, Steel's body was never found.[15]

At 6 p.m. the following day,K13tore the bollards out of the barges and sank again, flooding through the hole.[15]The submarine was finally salvaged on 15 March, repaired and recommissioned as HMSK22.

The court of enquiry found that four of the 37 inch (940 mm) diameter ventilators had been left open during the dive, and that the indicator lever in the control room had actually showed them as open.[20][19]The engine room hatch was also found to be open.[15]

Subsequent service

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K13was raised on 15 March 1917, and was subsequently refurbished and entered service under the nameK22,[8][10]completing on 18 October 1917,[7]joining the 13th Submarine Flotilla.[21]

Main article:Battle of May Island

On the night of 31 January 1918, units of the Grand Fleet, including the 13th Submarine Flotilla (the flotilla leaderIthurieland the submarinesK11,K12,K14,K17andK22) and the 12th Submarine Flotilla (the light cruiserFearlessand the submarinesK3,K4,K6andK7) set out fromRosythto take part in exercises. Despite the night being very dark, with occasional patches of fog, the ships were running without lights. WhenK14altered course to avoid a number of minesweepers ahead of her, her rudder jammed and she was rammed byK22.The two disabled submarines were then overtaken by the heavier units of the fleet, andK22was struck by the battlecruiserInflexible,destroying the external ballast tanks onK22's starboard side. Despite the damage, both submarines remained afloat, withK22making her way back to port under her own power. On hearing distress signals from the two submarines,CommanderE. Leir aboardIthurieldecided to turn the Flotilla back to go to the assistance ofK14andK22.This put the flotilla on a collision course with the rest of the fleet, including the 12th Submarine Flotilla. On meeting the fleet,Ithurielhad to turn to avoid the battlecruiserAustralia,which took the flotilla directly into the path of the 12th Flotilla.Fearlesscollided withK17,which sank, thenK4,followingFearless,pulled out of line and stopped to avoid hittingK17andFearless,and was herself hit byK6,which cutK4in two, andK7.Two submarines had been sunk with 103 killed.[22][23]

K22remained part of the 13th Flotilla at the end of the war,[24]and by March 1919 was part of the 3rd Submarine Flotilla.[25]She was sold for scrap on 16 December 1926.[26]

Memorials

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The K13 Memorial at Carlingford, New South Wales

The war graves and a monument to those who lost their lives in theK13sinking was erected by the ship's company, of the submarine depot atFort Blockhouse,Gosport. It is to be found at the entrance to Faslane Cemetery, at the head of theGare Loch.

A memorial to the disaster was erected inCarlingford, New South Wales,Australia, paid for by the widow of Charles Freestone, a leadingtelegraphistonK13who survived the accident to later emigrate and prosper in Australia. The memorial was unveiled on 10 September 1961 and has the inscription "This memorial has been created in memory of those officers and men of the Commonwealth who gave their lives in submarines while serving the cause of freedom." Set inside a pool of water surrounded by stone, it is composed of large (taller than a man) white letters saying "K13". There is a further memorial inElder Park, Govan,opposite the Fairfield shipyard.[27][28]

Citations

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  1. ^Whitman 2013,pp. 28–29
  2. ^abcdeGardiner & Gray 1985,p. 91
  3. ^Brown 2010,p. 125
  4. ^abcHarrison 1979,Chapter 8
  5. ^abHarrison 1979,Chapter 8, Appendix IIIB
  6. ^Whitman 2013,p. 29
  7. ^abHarrison 1979,Appendix I, p. App I.9
  8. ^ab"K.13".Clyde Built Ships.Caledonian Maritime Research Trust.Retrieved24 May2020.
  9. ^Naval Staff Monograph No. 34 1933,pp. 166–167
  10. ^abcdKemp 1999,pp. 48–48
  11. ^Hillhouse 1919,pp. 3–4
  12. ^abNaval Staff Monograph No. 34 1933,p. 167
  13. ^Hillhouse 1919,p. 4
  14. ^abHillhouse 1919,p. 6
  15. ^abcdeHillhouse 1919,p. 17
  16. ^abHillhouse 1919,pp. 8–10
  17. ^Submarine Casualties Booklet(Report). U.S. Naval Submarine School. 1966. p. G-5. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011.Retrieved19 August2013.{{cite report}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ^Hillhouse 1919,pp. 11–17
  19. ^abNaval Staff Monograph No. 34 1933,pp. 167–168
  20. ^Hillhouse 1919,p. 15
  21. ^"Supplement to the Monthly Navy List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands &c.: I.—The Grand Fleet: Thirteenth Submarine Flotilla".The Navy List.October 1917. p. 12.Retrieved24 May2020– viaNational Library of Scotland.
  22. ^Kemp 1999,pp. 64–65
  23. ^Whitman 2013,p. 31
  24. ^"Ships of the Royal Navy - Location/Action Date, 1914–1918: Part 2 - Admiralty" Pink Lists ", 11 November 1918".Naval-History.net.Retrieved24 May2020.
  25. ^"Supplement to the Monthly Navy List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands &c.: I.—The Grand Fleet: Submarines".The Navy List.March 1919. p. 12.Retrieved24 May2020– viaNational Library of Scotland.
  26. ^Dittmar & Colledge 1972,p. 89
  27. ^K13 Memorial | Mitchell Library, Glasgow Collection, Bulletin Photographs,The Glasgow Story
  28. ^Tragic tale behind K13 submarine memorial in Glasgow's Elder Park,Ann Fotheringhay, Glasgow Times, 11 September 2021

References

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Further reading

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  • Everitt, Don (1963).The K Boats(1st ed.). New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.OCLC568817.
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