HMS K4

HMS K4 was a British K-class submarine built by Vickers in Barrow-in-Furness. She was laid down on 28 June 1915 and commissioned on 1 January 1917, one year before the end of World War I.

HMS K4 beached on Walney Island
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS K4
Builder: Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness
Laid down: 28 June 1915
Launched: 13 July 1916
Commissioned: 1 January 1917
Fate: Sunk, 31 January 1918
General characteristics
Class and type: K-class submarine
Displacement:
  • 1,980 long tons (2,010 t) surfaced
  • 2,566 long tons (2,607 t) submerged
Length: 339 ft (103 m)
Beam: 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m)
Draught: 20 ft 11 in (6.38 m)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) surfaced
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range:
  • Surfaced :
  • 800 nmi (1,500 km; 920 mi) at 24 kn (44 km/h; 28 mph)
  • 12,500 nmi (23,200 km; 14,400 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph)
  • Submerged :
  • 8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
  • 40 nmi (74 km; 46 mi) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph)
Complement: 59 (6 officers and 53 ratings)
Armament:
  • 8 × 18 in (460 mm) torpedo tubes, (4 beam, 4 bow)
  • 8 × spare torpedoes
  • 2 × 18 in torpedo tubes fitted on deck (later removed)
  • 2 × BL 4 in (100 mm) Mk.XI guns
  • 1 × 3 in (76 mm) gun

Accidents

January 1917

In January 1917 HMS K4 ran aground on Walney Island. The British submarine giant was stranded on its beach but was undamaged. She was refloated the next day.[1] [2]

17 November 1917

On 17 November 1917, K4 collided with sister ship K1 during an accident off the Danish coast. The light cruiser Blonde operating with K1 had to make a sharp turn to avoid three units from the 4th Cruiser Squadron. And in the confusion, K4 collided with K1. The crew of K1 were rescued and K1 sunk by the Blonde.

Loss

K4 was lost on 31 January 1918 during the night time fleet exercises later known as the Battle of May Island (Operation E.C.1) when she was attached to the 13th Submarine Flotilla. While attempting to avoid a collision with K3, she became the victim of collisions with K6 and K7. She was lost with all hands. The wreck is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.[3]

Bibliography

Notes

  1. Mansergh 2015.
  2. New-York Tribune, 23 February, 1920, p. 2.
  3. "The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2008 No. 950". The National Archives. Retrieved 11 July 2010.

References

Publications
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