ROYAL NAVY 'A' CLASS SUBMARINE
A Class boats were first ordered in 1943 to replace the S and T Class.
Only two boats were commissioned before the end of WW11.
This class was built to operate in the Far East and had air conditioning systems built in.
Of the 46 boats ordered only 16 were commissioned.
The boats were built for quick construction and had a completely welded hull.
They did not see action in the war and they were later modified to make them more streamlined for use in the Cold War.
10 boats were built at Vickers Armstrong in Barrow, 3 at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, 2 at Scotts Greenock and 1 at HM Dockyard Chatham.
| 'A' Class Specification: | |||
| Commissioned | 1944 to 1947 | ||
| Length (feet): | 280.5 | ||
| Beam (feet): | 22.3 | ||
| Displacement (tons): | 1385 (surfaced) 1620(submerged) |
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| Speed (knots): | 18.5 (surfaced) 8 (submerged) |
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| Armament: | One 4" gun Three 303 Machine Guns One 20mm AA Gun Six 21" Bow Tubes (Two external. later removed) Four 21" Stern Tube (Two external, later removed) |
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| Engines: | Two 4300hp diesels Two 1250hp electric motors |
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| Range (n/miles): | 10500 | ||
| Compliment: | 61 | ||