HMS K6


HMS K6 was a British K class submarine built by HM Dockyard, Devonport. She was laid down on 8 November 1915 and commissioned in May 1917. K6 was the first of the K class to have its bows raised by converting it into a bulbous swan shape.
In 1917, K6 did not surface during a trial in North Dockyard, Devonport. K6 was involved in a serious exercise accident nicknamed the "Battle of May Island". She was responsible for ramming and slicing her in half. She was sold on 13 July 1926 to John Cashmore Ltd for scrapping at Newport.

Design

K6 displaced when at the surface and while submerged. It had a total length of, a beam of, and a draught of. The submarine was powered by two oil-fired Yarrow Shipbuilders boilers supplying one geared Brown-Curtis or Parsons steam turbine; this developed 10,500 ship horsepower to drive two screws. Submerged power came from four electric motors each producing. It was also had an diesel engine to be used when steam was being raised, or instead of raising steam.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a submerged speed of. It could operate at depths of at for. K6 was armed with ten torpedo tubes, two deck guns, and a anti-aircraft gun. Its torpedo tubes were fitted to the bows, the midship section, and two were mounted on the deck. Its complement was fifty-nine crew members.