“Explorer-class submarine”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

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Explorer-class submarine

释义

Boats
References
Further reading

{{Distinguish|Sub Marine Explorer}}{{Other uses|Explorer class (disambiguation){{!}}Explorer class}}{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}{{Infobox ship image

Ship image= Explorer_class_submarine.jpg

Ship caption= Explorer-class submarine (HMS Explorer (S30))
}}{{Infobox ship class overview

Name=

Builders=Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness

Operators=

Amphion|submarine|4}}

Class after=Porpoise class

Subclasses=

Cost=£2,000,000

Built range=

In service range=

In commission range=1958–1965

Total ships building=

Total ships planned=

Total ships completed=2

Total ships cancelled=

Total ships active=

Total ships laid up=

Total ships lost=

Total ships retired=

Total ships preserved=
}}{{Infobox ship characteristics

Hide header=

Header caption=

Ship type=Submarine

Ship displacement=*780 tons surfaced

1,000 tons submerged

178|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=flip}}

15|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on|disp=flip}}

Ship height=

11|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=flip}}

Ship depth=

Ship decks=

Ship power=

Ship propulsion=*High Test Peroxide (HTP) steam raising plant driving steam turbines (submerged)

Diesel-electric (surfaced)
2 shafts

25|kn|km/h|disp=flip|abbr=on}} (submerged)

Ship range=

Ship endurance=

Ship test depth=

Ship complement=49

Ship armament=

Ship armour=

Ship notes=
}}

The two Explorer-class submarines were experimental vessels built for the Royal Navy to test a propulsion system based on the use of highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide (high-test peroxide, HTP) and diesel fuel to achieve high underwater endurance and speeds.

Germany had started experimenting with this technology early in the Second World War and developed it into the Walter cycle. They had built some experimental boats. One of these, the U-boat {{GS|U-1407}}, which had been scuttled at the end of the war, was salvaged and eventually recommissioned into the Royal Navy as {{HMS|Meteorite}}.

This eventually led to the construction of the two Explorer-class experimental vessels, which used steam turbines, the steam being generated using heat from the catalysed interaction of HTP and diesel oil. They used the Porpoise-class hull, modified with retractable superstructure fittings to help streamlining. Being purely experimental craft they had no torpedo tubes or radar fitted, only one periscope and were equipped with backup diesel engines to recharge the batteries and propel them on the surface.^[1]

The first, Excalibur, was commissioned in March 1958. They were very fast boats, with a top underwater speed of around {{convert|26.5|kn|km/h|0|disp=flip|abbr=on}} for period up to 3 hours and {{convert|12|kn|km/h|abbr=on|disp=flip}} for 15 hours on one turbine.^[1] Because of the use of hydrogen peroxide as a hair bleach, the submarines were nicknamed the Blonde class. As well as providing experience with this type of technology, they also allowed the Royal Navy to practise against fast moving underwater targets. However the use of HTP was not successful, and there were several explosions, which resulted in the second nickname of Exploder being applied to the class and Explorer in particular, while Excalibur had the nickname "Excruciater".^[2] The subsequent use of HTP to power torpedoes led to the loss of {{HMS|Sidon|P259|6}} and the loss of the {{ship|Russian submarine|Kursk}}.

When the United States developed a nuclear reactor which could be installed in a submarine, the HTP project was abandoned. It was decided that it was not worth converting the class into normal diesel submarines. As a result, Explorer was sold for £13,500 to Thos W Ward for breaking up; Excalibur in turn was also subsequently sold to Thos W Ward.^[3]

Other countries have since developed the concept of the non-nuclear air-independent propulsion submarine to the point where it is a safe technology albeit as an auxiliary power source to a conventional diesel-electric drive, although hydrogen peroxide has long been abandoned and liquid oxygen is generally now preferred.

Boats

{{HMS|Explorer|submarine|6}} — (S30), launched 5 March 1954, commissioned 1958. Scrapped 5 March 1962.
{{HMS|Excalibur}} — (S40), launched 25 February 1955, commissioned 1958. Scrapped 1968.

References

1. ^¹Miller & Jordan. Page 63.
2. ^Preston. Page 161.
3. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.btinternet.com/~warship/Postwar/Submarines/perox.htm |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2009-03-08 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404034055/http://www.btinternet.com/~warship/Postwar/Submarines/perox.htm |archivedate=4 April 2009 |df= }}. Retrieved 7-3-2009.

Boats

References

Further reading