Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 37:55-38:44

U, V, and T classes in Royal Navy submarine warfare

A comparison of compact British submarines with the T class designed for ambushes in the South China Sea.

Pacific WarRoyal NavySubmarinesT Class SubmarinesU Class SubmarinesV Class Submarines
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Question

What was the Royal Navy's best submarine design of the Second World War?

Short answer

The U class is the personal favorite, while the V and T classes also had strong but different operational virtues.

Notes

The U and V classes are personal favorites, while the T class had a formidable forward torpedo battery. Had the T boats operated as planned in the South China Sea, their ambush design could have produced many kills. The personal choice of the U class is therefore not a claim that one design dominated every mission. The comparison shows how patrol environment and intended tactics determine what 'best' means.