HMS K17 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS K17
Builder	Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness
Launched	10 April 1917
Commissioned	1917
Fate	Sunk, 31 January 1918
General characteristics
Class and 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 a special type of submarine called a K-class submarine. It was built by a company called Vickers in Barrow-in-Furness, a town in England. This submarine was launched on April 10, 1917, and joined the Royal Navy later that year.

Submarine Design and Features

Like other K-class submarines, K17 was quite large for its time. When it was on the surface, it weighed about 1,800 tonnes (2,000 short tons). When it was underwater, it weighed around 2,600 tonnes (2,900 short tons).

Size and Dimensions

The submarine was very long, measuring 338 feet (103 m) from front to back. It was 26 feet 6 inches (8.08 m) wide and went 20 feet 11 inches (6.38 m) deep into the water.

Power and Speed

K17 used a mix of power sources to move. It had two large boilers that made steam. This steam powered a special engine called a steam turbine, which gave it 10,500 ship horsepower^{[convert: unknown unit]}. This power turned two propellers, each 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m) across.

For moving underwater, it had four electric motors. Each of these motors produced about 350 to 360 horsepower (260 to 270 kW). It also had a diesel engine that could generate 800 horsepower (600 kW). This diesel engine was used to charge the submarine's batteries when it was on the surface.

The submarine could travel very fast on the surface, reaching speeds of 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph). When it was underwater, it moved slower, at about 9 to 9.5 knots (16.7 to 17.6 km/h; 10.4 to 10.9 mph). It could dive to depths of 150 feet (46 m).

Weapons and Crew

K17 was equipped with several weapons. It had a 3 inches (76 mm) anti-aircraft gun to shoot at planes. It also carried ten 18 inches (460 mm) torpedo tubes. These tubes were used to fire torpedoes at enemy ships. Some torpedo tubes were at the front, some in the middle, and two were even on the deck. The submarine also had two 4 inches (100 mm) deck guns.

A total of fifty-nine crew members worked on K17. This included officers and other sailors.

The Loss of HMS K17

HMS K17 was tragically lost on January 31, 1918. This happened during a night-time training exercise for the fleet. This event is now known as the Battle of May Island.

K17 was part of the 13th Submarine Flotilla. During the exercise, another ship, Fearless|1912|6, accidentally crashed into K17. The collision caused K17 to sink very quickly, in about 8 minutes. Sadly, all the crew members on board were lost.

Today, the wreck of K17 is a protected site. This means it is kept safe under a law called the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.