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Royal Navy T Class (Group 3) Submarine
The Royal Navy decided in 1930 to replace its rather unsatisfactory fleet of ‘O’ ‘P’ & ‘R’ class submarines as well as the ageing ‘H’ class. The requirement was for two classes of submarines, one to be a medium sized coastal type suitable for use in the North Sea and Mediterranean, (this was the "S Class") and the other a long range ocean going type, this was the "T Class". During design due note had to be taken of the limitations of the ‘London Naval Treaty’ requirements that allowed the Royal Navy only 16,500 tons of new submarine construction.
To make the class worthwhile the Royal Navy’s main requirement was for a submarine displacing about 1,000 tons, fairly heavily armed, and with a patrol duration of at least 42 days. Also required was simplicity of construction, ease of handling, a greater torpedo armament than earlier classes and an increased speed of diving.
The design was finalised as a ocean going saddle tank type, the lead ship class prototype ‘Triton’ was approved in the 1935 programme, construction was commenced in 1936 and she entered service in 1937. After successful trials, and with slight dimensional modifications a further 21 boats were ordered between 1936 to 1939.
Once WWII had started it was decided to order a further 40 units to be known as ‘Group 2’ boats, although they were slightly modified to the (then known as) ‘Group 1’ submarines. In total only 31 were built of the ‘Group 2’ boats, the 9 cancelled being replaced with new ‘A Type’ boats.
The ‘T Class’ operated successfully throughout WWII, although 16 boats in total were lost, 13 in the Mediterranean) and remained in service (considerably rebuilt) into the 1970’s. Our model is based on P324 "Thorough" one of the later Group 2 boats, with the enclosed gun shield.
As a footnote, it was the disaster to the ‘Thetis’ (later Thunderbolt, lost Mediterranean 1943) in the late 1930’s that resulted in far better provisions being put into place to rescue submarine crews in the event of a disaster. These provisions are still in place today, although of course much improved.
Our set of white GRP mouldings consists of :The "T Class" is one of the models we have bought in from John Darnell of ‘Darnell Models’ of Leavesdon.
This twin screw model has been designed to operate on 4 channel radio control and can submerge from stationary, using an air pump system, or in motion, using forward dive speed.
When completed the mouldings make up into a handsome and attractive large model typical of the most active RN submarine of WWII.
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