HMS K1

HMS K1 was a First World War steam turbine-propelled K-class submarine of the Royal Navy.

She was sunk to prevent her from being captured following a collision with HMS K4 off the Danish coast. She had been patrolling on the surface as part of a flotilla of submarines operating in line ahead. The flotilla was led by the light cruiser HMS Blonde (1910), followed by K1, HMS K3, K4, and HMS K7.

Blonde turned sharply to avoid three cruisers which crossed her bows from starboard to port, which caused confusion amongst the following submarines and in the manoeuvring seawater poured into the boiler room through the funnels and put the boiler fires out (a common problem in K-class submarines). The loss of steam pressure caused the submarine to slow down and although K3 just missed her, K1 struck a blow alongside the conning tower which pierced the hull.

Seawater poured into the control room and reached the batteries under the floor causing chlorine gas to be produced. The damaged submarine signalled to Blonde that she was sinking and the 56 crew of the submarine were transferred to the cruiser using the cruiser's two cutters. It was decided that K1 could not be saved and so she was sunk by gunfire from the cruiser.