Forty-two vessels were ordered to this design, all to be built by Vickers-Armstrong at either Barrow-in-Furness or at Walker-on-Tyne, but only 22 were completed. Note that seven of these vessels received 'U' names (conversely, four of the U class had received names beginning with 'V').
The V-class submarines were very similar to the preceding U-class (short-hull) boats, of which they constituted a linear development, but had 3⁄4-inch (19 mm) pressure hull plating instead of 1⁄2-inch (13 mm) for deeper diving, also a lengthened stern and fining at the bow to reduce noise and improve underwater handling.
They were sometimes referred to as Vampire-class submarines after HMS Vampire.[2]
It was one of this class, HMS Venturer, that is the only submarine to sink another submarine while submerged - that submarine was the German U-864.
Ships
The vessels which were ordered are shown below in their programme order (not all completed construction):
The first eight vessels were ordered on 5 December 1941 under that year's programme.
HMS Vantage, cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)
HMS Vehement (P25), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)
HMS Venom (P27), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)
HMS Verve (P28), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)
Finally, a further ten vessels were ordered under the 1943 Programme, but all of these were cancelled on 20 November 1943; eight of these were never given names.
cancelled
HMS Unbridled (P11), cancelled 20 November 1943 (never laid down)
HMS Upward (P16), cancelled 20 November 1943 (never laid down)
