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Chilean submarine Fresia

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British submarine H20 in drydock, East Boston, 1915. The vessel later joined the Chilean Navy as Fresia.
History
Chile
NameH5
BuilderFore River Yard, Quincy, Massachusetts
Launched26 July 1915
Acquired1917
RenamedFresia, 1924
Stricken1945
General characteristics
Class and typeH-class submarine
Displacement
  • 363 long tons (369 t) surfaced
  • 434 long tons (441 t) submerged
Length150 ft 9 in (45.9 m)
Beam15 ft 9 in (4.8 m)
Draught12 ft 4 in (3.8 m)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) surfaced
  • 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) submerged
Range
  • 2,800 nmi (5,200 km; 3,200 mi) at 11 kn (20 km/h; 13 mph) surfaced
  • 30 nmi (56 km; 35 mi) at 5 kn (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Complement22
Armament

The Chilean submarine Fresia was an H-class submarine of the Chilean Navy. The vessel was originally ordered by the United Kingdom's Royal Navy as HMS H20, but was handed over to Chile in 1917 as H6.

Description

Fresia was a single-hulled submarine, with a pressure hull divided into five watertight compartments. The submarine had a length of 150 feet 9 inches (45.9 m) overall, a beam of 15 feet 9 inches (4.8 m) and a draught of 12 feet 4 inches (3.8 m). She displaced 363 long tons (369 t) on the surface and 434 long tons (441 t) submerged. The H-class submarines had a crew of 22 officers and enlisted men.[1]

The submarine had two propellers, each of which was driven by a 240-horsepower (180 kW) diesel engine as well as a 320-horsepower (239 kW) electric motors. This arrangement gave Fresia a maximum speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) while surfaced and 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) submerged. She had a range of 1,750 nmi (3,240 km; 2,010 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) while on the surface and 30 nmi (56 km; 35 mi) at 5 kn (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) while submerged. The boat had a capacity of 17.5 long tons (17.8 t) of fuel oil. The H-class submarines were equipped with four 18-inch (457 mm) torpedo tubes in the bow and carried eight torpedoes.[1]

Career

H20 was a H-class submarine built by Fore River Yard of Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on 25 August 1915. Because the United States was neutral (having not yet entered World War I), H20 along with sister ships H11, H12, H13, H14, H15, H16, H17, H18, and H19 were all interned by the United States government. As a result, H20 was never commissioned into the Royal Navy. Instead, she and H13, H16, H17, H18, and H19 were transferred to the Chilean Navy as partial recompensation for the appropriation of two 28,000-ton dreadnoughts (Almirante Latorre and Almirante Cochrane). Originally named H6 when turned over to Chile in 1917, she was renamed Fresia in 1924. She served with the Chilean Navy until she was stricken in 1945.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Gardiner & Gray, pp. 92, 409

References

  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1984). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |lastauthoramp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)