O 7-class submarine

Design history [1]
Coastal submarine of the single-hull type, designed by W. Denny & Bros in Dumbarton, United Kingdom. It was the first submarine built by Maatschappij Fijenoord in Rotterdam.

Used for training in the 1930s, completely antiquated by 1939. The Kriegsmarine captured her in 1940, but showed no interest in using her in any operational capacity.
[1]: From [JAL] unless otherwise noted.

Photo
O 7 (left) and O 9 (right), date and place unknown (Collection webmaster).

Construction details [1]
Name O 7
Dockyard Maatschappij voor Scheeps- en Werktuigbouw Fijenoord, Rotterdam
Dockyard number 265
Ordered May 8, 1913
Laid down May 12, 1914
Launched July 22, 1916
Commissioned December 23, 1916[2]
[1]: From [JAL] unless otherwise noted. Confirmed by other sources unless otherwise noted.
[2]: [MB36], [VML] says December 21, 1916.

Specifications [1]
Displacement 179 tons surfaced
209 tons submerged[2]
Crew 15
Dimensions 34,24 (over all)
3,90 x 2,88 m
Armament (as designed) 1 x MG No.3[3]
Torpedoes 2 x 450 mm bow tubes
1 x 450 mm stern tube
5 x 450 mm torpedoes[4] type I45 and II45.
Maximum depth 40 m
[1]: From [JAL] unless otherwise noted. Confirmed by other sources unless otherwise noted
[2]: [MB36] says 168 tons standard displacement. [VML] says 190 tons surfaced, 230 tons submerged.
[3]: from [MB36].
[4]: Torpedo types from [MOH].

Propulsion details [1]
Machinery 1 x MAN 2-stroke 6-cylinder diesel engine
Performance 350 shp (diesel)
210 shp (electrical engines)[2]
Shafts 1
Bunkerage  
Batteries 60 battery cells
Range 750 nautical miles at 10 knots (surfaced)
42 nautical miles at 7 knots (submerged)
Maximum speed 11,5 knots (surfaced)
8,5 knots (submerged)
[1]: From [JAL] unless otherwise noted. Confirmed by other sources unless otherwise noted
[2]: From [BUS]

History [1]
Used as training boat 1935-1939.
Decommissioned December 12, 1939.
Stricken December 21, 1939[2]
Sold for scrap, date unknown.
Captured by German forces at Den Helder May, 1940.
Laid up at Den Helder 1940 - 1944 (presumably).
Sank at moorings at Den Helder after she sprang a leak May 2, 1944.[3]
Salvaged and scrapped, dates unknown.[3]
[1]: From [JAL] unless otherwise noted. Confirmed by other sources unless otherwise noted.
[2]: From [VML],[GB110]
[3]: From [DSM]

Sources
BUS Ph.M. Bosscher/H.O. Bussemaker "Gelouterd door strijd" (2007)
GB110 GB110 (Mededelingen van de Marinestaf) "De Krijgsverrichtingen in de Stelling van Den Helder and het Commmandement der Marine te Willemsoord, enz. Mei 1940".
DSM Website Dutchsubmarines.com (now defunct).
JAL P.C. Jalhay/J.J.A. Wijn "Ik nader ongezien! - De onderzeeboten van de Koninklijke Marine" (1997)
MB36 Departement van Defensie, "Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Marine 1936-1937" (1938).
MOH J.M. Mohrmann "Marine torpedodienst 1875-2000" (2000).
VML A.J. Vermeulen "De schepen van de Koninklijke Marine en die der gouvernementsmarine 1862-1962" (1962).

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