HMS L25 was a L-class submarine built for the Royal Navy during World War I. She was one of five boats in the class to be fitted as a minelayer. The boat survived the war and was sold for scrap in 1935.

History
United Kingdom
NameHMS L25
BuilderVickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness
Laid down25 February 1918
Launched13 February 1919
FateSold for scrapping, 1935
General characteristics
Class and typeL-class submarine
Displacement
  • 914 long tons (929 t) surfaced
  • 1,089 long tons (1,106 t) submerged
Length238 ft 7 in (72.7 m)
Beam23 ft 6 in (7.2 m)
Draught13 ft 3 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
Range3,800 nmi (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) on the surface
Test depth100 feet (30.5 m)
Complement38
Armament

Design and description

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L9 and its successors were enlarged to accommodate 21-inch (53.3 cm) torpedoes and more fuel. The submarine had a length of 238 feet 7 inches (72.7 m) overall, a beam of 23 feet 6 inches (7.2 m) and a mean draft of 13 feet 3 inches (4.0 m).[1] They displaced 914 long tons (929 t) on the surface and 1,089 long tons (1,106 t) submerged. The L-class submarines had a crew of 38 officers and ratings.[2]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 12-cylinder Vickers[3] 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.[1] 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 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[4]

The boats were armed with four 21-inch torpedo tubes in the bow. They carried four reload torpedoes for the 21-inch tubes for a grand total of eight torpedoes.[5] They were also armed with a 4-inch (102 mm) deck gun.[2] L25 was fitted with 14 vertical mine chutes in her saddle tanks and carried one mine per chute.[1]

Construction and career

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HMS L25 was built by Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness. She was laid down on 25 February 1918 and was commissioned on 13 February 1919.

L25 ran aground off The Needles, Isle of Wight, on 7 April 1924. She was refloated later that day.[6]

L25 was sold to John Cashmore Ltd for scrapping at Newport, Wales, in 1935. Her ship's bell is in the care of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Gardiner & Gray, p. 93
  2. ^ a b Akermann, p. 165
  3. ^ Harrison, Chapter 25
  4. ^ Harrison, Chapters 3
  5. ^ Harrison, Chapter 27
  6. ^ "L25 aground near The Needles". The Times. No. 43621. London. 8 April 1924. col A, p. 16.

References

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