The RIDICULOUS Steam Submarine: The K-Class Failure

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Published 2024-04-10
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!

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

All Comments (21)
  • @Bob78
    Early submarines are so fascinating to me, but unlike more modern submarines, I don't envy the people who served aboard them.
  • @michaelholt8590
    As soon as Mike said "vents" and "foreshadowing" I thought "Oh God! Someone put a vent on a submarine!"
  • Read a paperback called the K ships years ago and the best quote was “my ends sinking, what’s your end doing?”
  • @diminios
    Interesting timing. Just this morning I was reading "Greatest Naval Blunders" by Geoffrey Regan - the very chapter that talks about the K-class!
  • @mikefochtman7164
    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.
  • @mattblom3990
    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!
  • @elijahpass1539
    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 )
  • @blitzzkrieg1400
    Always a great day when our friend, Mike Brady, uploads a new video
  • @Walker_TR2
    I love when my friend, Mike Brady from Oceanliner Designs uploads another video.
  • @792slayer
    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.
  • @SueBobChicVid
    I served on "modern" US subs and I am fascinated by the earlier crazy designs.
  • @babalonkie
    Finally... a mention of the M-Class Submarines 🙂 Battleship gun or aircraft carrier (Beating the Japanese to it a few decades earlier)... they were unique and bold creations.
  • 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)
  • @LFC4LIFEJEDI
    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.
  • @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.
  • 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...
  • @alancats
    I'm in favor of bestowing the much-deserved honorific, "Professor," to our friend, Mike Brady. He is making his superb Maritime/Nautical History 101 class available to the masses, on YouTube.
  • 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.
  • @ctron2388
    Just a cool tiny fact at 12 noon today Titanic’s sets sail 112 years ago