HMS K1
Encyclopedia
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 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
, followed by K1, , K4, and .
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.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
steam turbine
Steam turbine
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884....
-propelled K-class
British K class submarine
The K class submarines were a class of steam-propelled submarines of the Royal Navy designed in 1913. Intended as large, fast vessels which had the endurance and speed to operate with the battle fleet, they gained notoriety, and the nickname of Kalamity class, for being involved in many accidents....
submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
She was sunk to prevent her from being captured following a collision with off the Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
coast. She had been patrolling on the surface as part of a flotilla
Flotilla
A flotilla , or naval flotilla, is a formation of small warships that may be part of a larger fleet. A flotilla is usually composed of a homogeneous group of the same class of warship, such as frigates, destroyers, torpedo boats, submarines, gunboats, or minesweepers...
of submarines operating in line ahead. The flotilla was led by the light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
, followed by K1, , K4, and .
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
Seawater
Seawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% . This means that every kilogram of seawater has approximately of dissolved salts . The average density of seawater at the ocean surface is 1.025 g/ml...
poured into the boiler
Boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:...
room through the funnels
Funnel (ship)
A funnel is the smokestack or chimney on a ship used to expel boiler steam and smoke or engine exhaust. They can also be known in as stacks.-Purpose:...
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
Conning tower
A conning tower is a raised platform on a ship or submarine, often armored, from which an officer can con the vessel; i.e., give directions to the helmsman. It is usually located as high on the ship as practical, to give the conning team good visibility....
which pierced the hull.
Seawater poured into the control room and reached the batteries under the floor causing chlorine
Chlorine
Chlorine is the chemical element with atomic number 17 and symbol Cl. It is the second lightest halogen, found in the periodic table in group 17. The element forms diatomic molecules under standard conditions, called dichlorine...
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.