Allied Warships

Submarines

L (Leninec) class

24 ships


The submarine L-21 of the Soviet Navy.

Technical information

TypeSubmarine
Displacement1040/1335 BRT 
Length77,90m 
Complement 
Armament6 torpedo tubes (12 torpedoes)
1 10cm deck gun
1 4.5cm gun 
Max speed14/9 knots (surfaced/submerged)
Power2600/1250  (surfaced/submerged)
Notes on classThe boats of this class were designed to recover the idea of underwater mine-layers with a help of modern technical base of the end of 1920s.

After conferences between seamen, submarine commanders and naval engineers it was decided to install rather powerful torpedo and artillery together with mine weapons. Soviet naval command approved this project (II series) to be universal long-range minelayer/attack sub, intended to install mine defences onto fairways and enemy naval activities routes, to inflict attacks upon enemy warships and transport ships with a help of torpedoes and artillery. Mines were carried inside the inner hull in two long tubes of special design with hatches aft the boat. 20 mines were secured in dry condition inside this tubes until exact installation. First series of L class, built in 1929-30 (type II), had considerably long time of submerging (about 3 min.).

Latter submarines (type XI, XIII and XIII-1938) had many improvements in equipment, weapons and range. They became really universal boats, fighting on all wartime theatres. Most success in score was achieved by minefields of this boats. 


All ships of the L (Leninec) class


1st group (Type II)


Soviet Navy Soviet Navy (more on Soviet Navy)

L-1
L-2 Lost on 14 Nov 1941
L-3
L-4
L-5
L-6 Lost on 18 Apr 1944

2nd group (Type XI)


Soviet Navy Soviet Navy (more on Soviet Navy)

L-10
L-11
L-12
L-7
L-8
L-9

3rd group (Type XIII)


Soviet Navy Soviet Navy (more on Soviet Navy)

L-13
L-14
L-15
L-16 Lost on 11 Oct 1942
L-17
L-18
L-19 Lost on 24 Aug 1945

4th group (Type XIII-modified)


Soviet Navy Soviet Navy (more on Soviet Navy)

L-20
L-21
L-22
L-23 Lost on 17 Jan 1944
L-24 Lost on Dec 1942
L-25


24 Submarines (25 names) of the L (Leninec) class. 6 of them were lost.

See all Submarine classes.


Books dealing with this subject include:



Return to the Allied Warships section