The RIDICULOUS Steam Submarine: The K-Class Failure

The K-Class submarine was a attempt by the Royal Navy to create a submarine capable of keeping pace with the massive dreadnoughts of the era - but sadly the design was badly hampered by issues from the start. The choice of steam turbines for a propulsion method presented the crews with an intricate dive procedures that had to be followed closely and without mistakes - a single error could doom the sub. What resulted was a series of accidents and mishaps that killed dozens of sailors and created deep embarrassment for the Admiralty. This is the true story of the British K-Class submarine!

Edited by Alex Anastasakis
Animations by Jack Gibson

Oceanliner Designs explores the design, construction, engineering and operation of history’s greatest vessels | from Titanic to Queen Mary and from the Empress of Ireland to the Lusitania. Join maritime researcher and illustrator Michael Brady as he tells the stories behind some of history's most famous ocean liners and machines!

#ships #sinking #disaster #titanic #wrecks #exploration #history #adventure #design #engineering #mairitime #safety #vessels #sailing #documentary #story #oceanlinerdesigns

[Bob]

Early submarines are so fascinating to me, but unlike more modern submarines, I don't envy the people who served aboard them.

[michaelholt]

As soon as Mike said "vents" and "foreshadowing" I thought "Oh God! Someone put a vent on a submarine!"

[SimonTekConley]

The part that is glossed over, that it sank, and was able to be refloated, and some of the men saved. This was ww1, that is so impressive that it was done.

[dgthe]

Steam turbines on submarines work great, especially on large subs. Catch is, you want a fuel that doesn't require air. It'd be decades before the solution was found: nuclear power.

[mikefochtman]

Another point, diesel-electric submarines are not slower underwater because they use electric motors. The drive system uses electric motors on the surface as well. The motors are powered from either diesel-driven generators or storage batteries, but the motors are capable of the same hp surfaced or submerged. (although at maximum power, the storage batteries are depleted quite rapidly)

But the hull design of these boats are much more hydrodynamic on the surface. Basically similar to conventional ships. Submerged, the deck gun, conning tower and overall hull shape create tremendous drag reducing their submerged speed. The adoption of the tear-drop hull shape (Albacore hull shape) changed that after WW II.

[diminios]

Interesting timing. Just this morning I was reading "Greatest Naval Blunders" by Geoffrey Regan - the very chapter that talks about the K-class!

[elijahpass]

70 degrees doesn’t sound that ba- OH THAT’S CELSIUS

[xBrandinOx]

Mike, I know you hear ( read mostly ) how much joy your passion has brought all of us viewers. Every video has so much soul and love seamed through the writing and visuals. It's truly no wonder why the now legendary words "it's your friend, Mike Brady..." causes auto-clicks, likes, and us to watch in full.


I am 35. When I was 10, I started a history project on Titanic. As she did for so many us, Titanic unlocked a fascination and love for Titanic herself, as well as anything that's ever tasted the sea.

I want to say thank you for all that you do. Thank you for how much love you put into what you do, and thank you for never failing to produce top quality videos, week after week.

Your friend,

-Brandon, huge fan and supporter of Oceanliner Designs. ( although, I'd absolutely LOVE to be a part and work with Oceanliner Designs lol )

[blitzzkrieg]

Always a great day when our friend, Mike Brady, uploads a new video

[mattblom]

I was at a liquor store the other day and the young woman asked me what I was doing on my Sunday afternoon. I said watch some naval history videos, she said to watch Mike Brady's Oceanliner Designs and I was happy to tell her one of your Titanic videos was qued up at home on my laptop. Sharing that story from a small town in Western Canada!

[janicereadymartcher]

Read a paperback called the K ships years ago and the best quote was “my ends sinking, what’s your end doing?”

[LFCLIFEJEDI]

I worked at Barrow in Furness for Bae Systems.. I was there during the construction of the first Astute Class Sub.

I have to say, it was a hell of experience being to walk past each day watching this amazing machine being constructed.

It was 4 stories high and just short of 100m long.

It's not until you are able to stand literally within fingertips next to it are able to truly appreciate it's size.

[pintsofcremedementh]

Very impressive that they were able to save so many lives during those disastrous test runs, casting doubt on the perspective that life was cheap in those times. Absolute heroes living by the word of never leaving a man behind (against terrible odds)

[CurmudgeonExtraordinaire]

Yes, nuclear subs and ships are definitely "steam powered"... Instead of having traditional boilers, the reactor provides the heat source in the primary coolant loop which goes through the steam generator to create the superheated water / steam that goes into the steam turbines...

[slayer]

I've always been interested in submarines. My favorite is the WW2 generation, because of how advanced they were without solid state electronics. The newer trends towards air independent power have been fascinating.

[ctron]

Just a cool tiny fact at 12 noon today Titanic’s sets sail 112 years ago

[MikeFinnell]

Great work as always. I also enjoyed Fredrik Knudsen telling of the tale, he goes into a deeper level of detail on the Battle of May Island and the absolute cluster it was.

[geecroe-vuxk]

Hey Mike! Would you consider making a video on the history/progression of ship propulsion from inception to modern day? That would be awesome! Love the channel mate keep it up 🚢

[Dakiraun]

Sure can't fault the bold ideas the Edwardians had. The _execution_ of those ideas, however, sometimes was not so great - like this one. As you point out though, it was an era of immense industrial progress, and sometimes they just didn't know until they tried (and failed). Another excellent and fascinating video about something I didn't even realize existed. Also a great reminder of the lives lost in the name of progress.

[theforgottendonut]

One detail that sums up the K Class perfectly.

The K Class submarine could dive after 30 minutes, if nothing went wrong. The rival U-Boat could dive in 30 seconds.