 HMSH31 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMSH31 |
| Builder | Vickers Limited,Barrow-in-Furness |
| Laid down | 19 April 1917 |
| Launched | 16 November 1918 |
| Commissioned | 21 February 1919 |
| Fate | Sunk, between 19 and 24 December 1941 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | H-classsubmarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 171 ft 0 in (52.12 m) |
| Beam | 15 ft 4 in (4.67 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Complement | 22 |
| Armament |
|
HMSH31 was a BritishH-classsubmarine built byVickers Limited,Barrow-in-Furness. She was laid down on 19 April 1917 and was commissioned on 21 February 1919.
HMSH31 survived untilWorld War II. During the war, she took part in the operation to keep theScharnhorst atBrest, France in December 1941 before the "Channel Dash" to German homeports in the company ofGneisenau andPrinz Eugen in February 1942. During the operation,H31 was sunk by unknown causes, but most believe she was struck anaval mine in theBay of Biscay after leaving port on 19 December and failing to respond on 24 December 1941.[1]
Like all post-H20British H-class submarines,H31 had a displacement of 423 long tons (430 t) at the surface and 510 long tons (520 t) while submerged.[2] It had a total length of 171 feet (52 m),[3] a beam of 15 feet 4 inches (4.67 m), and a draught of 12 metres (39 ft).[4] It contained a diesel engines providing a total power of 480 horsepower (360 kW) and two electric motors each providing 320 horsepower (240 kW) power.[4] The use of its electric motors made the submarine travel at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). It would normally carry 16.4 long tons (16.7 t) of fuel and had a maximum capacity of 18 long tons (18 t).[5]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) and a submerged speed of 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph). Post-H20 British H-class submarines had ranges of 2,985 nautical miles (5,528 km; 3,435 mi) at speeds of 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) when surfaced.[2][4]H31 was fitted with ananti-aircraft gun and four 21-inch (533 mm)torpedo tubes. Its torpedo tubes were fitted to thebow and the submarine was loaded with eight 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes.[2] It is aHolland 602 type submarine but was designed to meet Royal Navy specifications. Itscomplement was twenty-two crew members.[2]
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in December 1940 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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