British W class submarine

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Class overview
Operators:	Royal Navy
Completed:	4
General characteristics
Displacement:	340 tons surfaced/500 tons submerged
Propulsion:	2-shaft diesel, electric motors, 740bhp/ 380shp
Speed:	13 knots surfaced/ 8 knots submerged
Range:	2500 nm at 9 knots
Complement:	18
Armament:	2-18in TT (bow) torpedoes, 4-18in torpedoes in external drop collars (removed), 1-3in AA gun

The W class submarines were built for the Royal Navy as experimental boats. They were designed to a French Schneider-Laubeuf design.

Only 4 W class were built from 1913 to 1916. the first 2 boats took 15 and 17 months to build which at the time was a remarkable feat compared to other building times.

The W class had a very good performance with excellent diving control and efficient venting and flooding systems. The W class did have problems with habitability but other than that, they were good submarines.

All 4 of the W class submarine were transferred to the Italian Navy in August 1916.

[edit] References

The Royal Navy Submarine Service, A centennial History, by Antony Preston.