HMS B2 facts for kids
class="infobox " style="float: right; clear: right; width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em;" | 
|} HMS B2 was an early type of submarine built for the Royal Navy. It was one of 11 submarines in the B-class. These submarines were made in the first few years of the 1900s.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS B2 |
| Builder | Vickers |
| Launched | 30 October 1905 |
| Completed | 9 December 1905 |
| Fate | Lost, 4 October 1912 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | B-class submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 142 ft 3 in (43.4 m) |
| Beam | 12 ft 7 in (3.8 m) |
| Draught | 11 ft 2 in (3.4 m) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | 1,000 nmi (1,900 km; 1,200 mi) at 8.7 kn (16.1 km/h; 10.0 mph) on the surface |
| Test depth | 100 feet (30.5 m) |
| Complement | 2 officers and 13 ratings |
| Armament | 2 × 18 in (450 mm) bow torpedo tubes |
What Was the B-Class Submarine?
The B-class submarines were an improved version of older submarines. They were designed to be larger and better.
Size and Crew
HMS B2 was about 43.3 meters (142 feet) long. It was 3.8 meters (12 feet) wide. When it was on the surface, it weighed about 287 tonnes. When it was underwater, it weighed 316 tonnes. Each B-class submarine had a small crew. There were two officers and 13 other sailors on board.
How it Moved
For moving on the surface, these submarines used a special petrol engine. This engine had 16 cylinders and was very powerful. It could produce 600 horsepower. When the submarine went underwater, it switched to an electric motor. This motor had 180 horsepower.
Speed and Range
On the surface, HMS B2 could travel at 12 knots. That is about 22 kilometers per hour. Underwater, it was slower, moving at 6.5 knots. This is about 12 kilometers per hour. The submarine could travel about 1,852 kilometers (1,000 nautical miles) on the surface. It could do this when moving at 8.7 knots.
Weapons
The submarines had two torpedo tubes at the front. These tubes could fire 18-inch (450 mm) torpedoes. They could carry two extra torpedoes. However, carrying extra torpedoes meant they had to carry less fuel.
Building and Service
HMS B2 was built by a company called Vickers. Their shipyard was in Barrow-in-Furness, England. The submarine was launched into the water on October 30, 1905. It was finished and ready for service on December 9, 1905.
The Accident
Sadly, HMS B2 was lost in an accident. This happened on October 4, 1912. The submarine was taking part in training exercises. These exercises were happening near Dover, England. In the early morning, HMS B2 was on the surface. It accidentally crashed into a large ship called SS Amerika. The collision happened about 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) northeast of Dover.
The accident caused the submarine to sink. Most of the crew, 15 sailors, did not survive. The only person who survived was Lieutenant Pulleyne. He was the officer on the submarine's bridge. The submarine was not brought back up from the sea. This was done so the lost crew members could rest in peace. In recent years, amateur divers found the wreck of HMS B2.
