# British V-class submarine

The British V-class submarine (officially "U-Class Long hull 1941–42 programme") was a class of submarines built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

## History

Forty-two vessels were ordered to this design, all to be built by Vickers-Armstrong at either Barrow-in-Furness or at Walker-on-Tyne, but only 22 were completed. Note that seven of these vessels received 'U' names (conversely, four of the U class had received names beginning with 'V').
The V-class submarines were very similar to the preceding U-class (short-hull) boats, of which they constituted a linear development, but had 3⁄4-inch (19 mm) pressure hull plating instead of 1⁄2-inch (13 mm) for deeper diving, also a lengthened stern and fining at the bow to reduce noise and improve underwater handling.
They were sometimes referred to as Vampire-class submarines after HMS Vampire.
It was one of this class, HMS Venturer, that is the only submarine to sink another submarine while submerged - that submarine was the German U-864.

## Ships

The vessels which were ordered are shown below in their programme order (not all completed construction):
The first eight vessels were ordered on 5 December 1941 under that year's programme.
* HMS Venturer (P68)
* HMS Viking (P69)
* HMS Veldt (P71), completed as Pipinos (Y8)
* HMS Vampire (P72)
* HMS Vox (P73)
* HMS Vigorous (P74)
* HMS Virtue (P75)
* HMS Visigoth (P76)
The next eighteen vessels were ordered on 21 May 1942 under that year's programme, but six of these were cancelled in early 1944.
* HMS Vivid (P77)
* HMS Voracious (P78)
* HMS Vulpine (P79) - Transferred to the Royal Danish Navy after the war as U2
* HMS Varne (P81)
* HMS Upshot (P82)
* HMS Urtica (P83)
* HMS Vineyard (P84), completed as French submarine Doris (P84)
* HMS Variance (P85), completed as HNoMS Utsira
* HMS Vengeful (P86), transferred to Greece in 1945 as Greek submarine Delfin (Y-9)
* HMS Vortex (P87), completed as French submarine Morse (P87)
* cancelled
* HMS Veto (P88), cancelled 23 January 1944 and scrapped on the slip
* HMS Virile (P89), cancelled 23 January 1944 and scrapped on the slip
* HMS Visitant (P91), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)
* HMS Upas (P92), cancelled February 1944 and scrapped on the slip
* HMS Ulex (P93), cancelled February 1944 (never laid down)
* HMS Utopia (P94), cancelled February 1944 (never laid down)
* HMS Virulent (P95)
* HMS Volatile (P96)
A further six vessels were ordered on 17 November 1942 under the same year's programme, but four of these were cancelled on 23 January 1944.
* HMS Votary (P29)
* HMS Vagabond (P18)
* cancelled
* HMS Vantage, cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)
* HMS Vehement (P25), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)
* HMS Venom (P27), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)
* HMS Verve (P28), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)
Finally, a further ten vessels were ordered under the 1943 Programme, but all of these were cancelled on 20 November 1943; eight of these were never given names.
* cancelled
* HMS Unbridled (P11), cancelled 20 November 1943 (never laid down)
* HMS Upward (P16), cancelled 20 November 1943 (never laid down)
* Eight more unnamed boats