The K VIII-class submarine was a three boat class of submarines of the Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy). The class varied from K V-class submarine due to the removal of two external torpedo tubes, which were removed to reduce the boats' vulnerability to depth charging. The boat had a diving depth of 50 metres (160 ft). K VIII-class submarine was built after the John Philip Holland design. [1]
Quick Facts Class overview, General characteristics ...
 |
| Class overview |
|---|
| Name | K VIII class |
| Builders | Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde, Vlissingen, Netherlands |
| Operators | |
| Preceded by | K V class |
| Succeeded by | K XI class |
| Built | 1917–1923 |
| In commission | 1922–1944 |
| Completed | 3 |
| Retired | 3 |
| General characteristics |
|---|
| Type | Patrol submarine |
| Displacement |
- Surfaced:
- 520 long tons (528 t) standard
- 583 long tons (592 t) full load
- Submerged:
- 715 long tons (726 t) standard
- 810 long tons (823 t) full load
|
| Length | 64.41 m (211 ft 4 in) |
| Beam | 5.6 m (18 ft 4 in) |
| Draught | 3.55 m (11 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion |
- K VIII
- 2 × 900 hp (671 kW) 8-cylinder MAN 2-stroke diesel engines
- K IX & K X
- 2 × 775 hp (578 kW) 6-cylinder Sulzer 2-stroke diesel engines
- All
- 2 × 200 hp (149 kW) electric motors
- 2 shafts
|
| Speed |
- K VIII
- 16 kn (30 km/h) surfaced
- 8 kn (15 km/h) submerged
- K IX & K X
- 15 kn (28 km/h) surfaced
- 8 kn (15 km/h) submerged
|
| Range |
- 3,500 nmi (6,500 km) at 11 kn (20 km/h) surfaced
- 25 nmi (46 km) at 8 kn (15 km/h) submerged
|
| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Complement | 31 |
| Armament | |
Close
All ships were still in service at the start of World War II. During the war K IX was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy and renamed K9.[2]
