HMS K2

HMS K2
Career
Name:	HMS K2
Builder:	HM Dockyard Portsmouth
Laid down:	13 November 1915
Commissioned:	May 1917
Fate:	Sold, 13 July 1926
General characteristics
Class & 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:	2 × 10,500 shp (7.8 MW) Brown-Curtis or Parsons geared steam turbines 2 × Yarrow boilers 4 × 1,440 hp (1,070 kW) electric motors 1 × 800 hp (600 kW) Vickers diesel generator for charging batteries on the surface 2 × 3-blade 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) diameter screws
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 (46 mi; 74 km) at 4 kn (4.6 mph; 7.4 km/h)
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

HMS K2 was the second of the K class submarines and was built at HM Dockyard, Portsmouth, England. She was laid down on 13 November 1915 and was commissioned in May 1917 one year before the end of World War I.

K2 had an unsuccessful start. In January 1917, she was damaged by an explosion and fire during her first diving trials.

On 11 January 1924, K2 collided with K12 as they departed from Portland Harbour. K2 smashed a hole in the forward casing of K12 and buckled her bows for about 6 feet (1.8 m). This collision yet again showed the perils of exercising with heavy units.

On 7 November 1924, K2 collided with H29 during exercises.

K2 was sold on 13 July 1926 at Newport.

References

• Hutchinson, Robert. Submarines, War Beneath The Waves, from 1776 to the Present Day.