K17 HMS submarine

The full index of our ship stamp archive
Post Reply
aukepalmhof
Posts: 7771
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

K17 HMS submarine

Post by aukepalmhof » Tue Aug 26, 2014 9:00 pm

Name: HMS K17
Builder: Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness
Laid Down: 01-06-1916
Launched: 10-04-1917
Completed: 20-09-1917
Fate: Sunk, 31 January 1918
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 K17 was sunk on 31 January 1918 during the night time fleet exercises later known as the Battle of May Island (Operation E.C.1) when she was attached to the 13th Submarine Flotilla. HMS K17 was astern of HMS COURAGEOUS when the latter changed course to avoid two trawlers, which were spotted ahead. HMS K17 turned but HMS K22 and HMS K14 were involved in a collision. Meanwhile HMS FEARLESS was steaming at 21 knots towards the area oblivious of the accident. Suddenly the FEARLESS appeared over the horizon and ploughed into HMS K17, water gushed into the boat through the pierced pressure hull. The order to abandon ship was quickly given. Within 8 minutes HMS K17 had disappeared. The survivors were now in the water and the other submarines attempted to pick them up. Sadly the destroyers were unaware of the location of the accident and ploughed through the survivors. Only 9 were picked up out of a crew of 56, and one of these died later. A total of 270 were lost either that night or from their injuries later. Some internet sites are quoting that there were no survivors from the ramming.
The wreck is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

Micronesia 2014 $ 1.20 sg?, scott? Stamp image from internet.


Sources: Wikipedia. http://www.rnsubs.co.uk/Boats/BoatDB2/i ... BoatID=184.
YouTube dive on HMS K17 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNd-xyQLpPA
http://www.marinequest.co.uk/british-su ... 16th-june/
http://newmarket-remembers.info/drake%20arthur.html
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_p ... may-island

Peter Crichton
Attachments
HMS+K+17+++++++++++.jpg
HMS+K+17.jpg

Post Reply