Скачать или смотреть Four Odd and Terrible British Submarines

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Royal Navy reigned as the world’s dominant naval force, with the industrial might and innovation to experiment with new concepts. While the British submarine force was initially underappreciated at the start of World War I, it soon became clear that these vessels held strategic potential. This video explores some of the Royal Navy’s most unusual and experimental submarines, notably the massive cruiser submarine X1 and the monitor-like M-Class submarines.

The X1 submarine was born from post-World War I experimentation. Inspired by German U-cruisers, the Royal Navy pursued a large, long-range cruiser submarine capable of attacking enemy merchant shipping. Commissioned in 1925, X1 was the largest submarine in the world at the time. She featured six bow torpedo tubes and two twin 5.2-inch gun turrets—a heavy surface armament for a submarine. She also tested novel features like diesel-electric propulsion and a director control tower. However, the experimental engines were plagued by torsional vibration issues, especially at full power. Despite impressive design ambitions, X1 suffered constant mechanical problems and spent most of her service life in dockyards. She was ultimately scrapped in 1937 under the terms of the London Naval Treaty.

The M-Class submarines were another bold experiment by the Royal Navy. Designed during World War I as “monitor submarines,” they were intended to surface, fire a heavy gun at enemy vessels or coastal targets, and submerge quickly. Armed with a single 12-inch battleship gun, M1 through M4 were unconventional and somewhat impractical. M1 was the only one to serve before the war’s end and was lost in a collision during an exercise in 1925. M2 and M3 survived the war but were repurposed for experimental roles.

M2 became a submarine aircraft carrier, fitted with a hangar and catapult to launch a Parnall Peto seaplane. This was meant to enhance reconnaissance for extended patrols. However, in 1932 M2 sank under mysterious circumstances—likely due to flooding after launching aircraft with the hangar doors open. M3 was converted into an external minelayer and tested extensively. Despite mechanical complexity and design limitations, the trials proved the feasibility of extended submarine mine-laying missions. Still, treaty restrictions eventually led to M3’s scrapping in the early 1930s.

While none of these vessels proved successful in long-term service, they pushed the limits of submarine warfare in their time. Their design lessons influenced future developments and underscored the value of experimentation. From massive cruiser submarines to gun-armed monitors and even underwater aircraft carriers, these Royal Navy submarines represented a unique chapter in naval innovation. In future videos, we’ll explore other bizarre designs from Japan, the United States, and beyond.

Intro 0:00
X1 0:52
M-Class 8:46
Conclusion 21:08

Sources/Other Reading:

https://www.amazon.com/Big-Gun-Monito...

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https://www.amazon.com/British-Battle...

https://www.amazon.com/British-Battle...

https://www.amazon.com/British-Submar...

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