The Submarine Heritage Centre - The "M" Class (M1 & M2)

Sponsorship Comments

The Rotary Club of Barrow in Furness are pleased to sponsor this painting as it celebrates the endeavours of the people of Barrow, and note that these vessels were in operation at the time this Rotary Club was founded in the early thirties of the 20th century.

M Class Technical Facts:

- Yard No: 494 (M1 & M2)
- Builder: M1 & 2 Vickers Limited - Barrow-in-Furness. M3 Built at Armstrong Whitworth.
- Launched: 09.07.1917
- Completed: April 1918
- Dimensions (in feet): Length: 296ft Breadth: 24.5ft Draught: 18.8ft
- Displacement: Surfaced: 1,600 tons, Submerged: 1,950 tons.
- Machinery: Surfaced: Twin Diesels 2,400 bhp. Submerged: Twin Electric Motors 1,600bbhp.
- Endurance: 3,800 nautical miles at 10 knots.
- Armaments: Single 12 inch BL 30 cal. Mark XI gun. 4x18 inch bow torpedo tubes.
- Complement: 68.

Historical Facts:

By the outbreak of war in 1914, the majority of navies with submarines wanted a gun as an alternative to the torpedoes, but it was the Royal Navy which sent the largest gun to sea in a Submarine in the M class.The thinking behind such a weapon was made clear by Rear Admiral Submarines "The object was to supplement torpedo attacks against surface ships, which could often elude a torpedo. A 12 inch projectile fired at fairly close range should be difficult to elude. Furthermore, fifty shells could be carried instead of a few torpedoes."

The guns were taken from a Majestic Class pre-dreadnought awaiting the breakers yard. The gun and mounting weighed 129 tons. The size of the mounting actually enhanced the submarines diving qualities - the weight helped to keep her down, whilst it's volume stabilised the boat at periscope depth.

M1 was sunk in collision with the Swedish Collier Vidar (2,159 grt), whilst on exercise off Start Point, Dorset on November the 12th 1925 with the loss of all hands.

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