|   HMS Voracious
 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | V class | 
| Builders: | Vickers-Armstrong | 
| Operators: | |
| Preceded by: | U class | 
| Succeeded by: | Amphion class | 
| Planned: | 42 | 
| Completed: | 34 named (8 more never named) of which only 22 were completed. | 
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Submarine | 
| Displacement: | 
 | 
| Length: | 204 ft 6 in (62.33 m) | 
| Beam: | 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m) | 
| Draught: | 15 ft 3 in (4.65 m) | 
| Propulsion: | 2 shaft diesel-electric, 2 Paxman diesel generators + electric motors, 615 hp (459 kW) / 825 hp (615 kW) | 
| Speed: | 
 | 
| Complement: | 33 | 
| Armament: | 
 | 
The British V-class submarine (officially "U-Class Long hull 1941–42 programme") was a class of submarines built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
42 vessels were ordered to this design, all to be built by Vickers-Armstrong at either Barrow-in-Furness or at Walker-on-Tyne, but only 22 were completed. Note that 7 of these vessels received 'U' names (conversely, 4 of the U class had received names beginning with 'V').
The V-class submarines were very similar to the preceding U-class (short-hull) boats, of which they constituted a linear development, but had 3/4-inch pressure hull plating instead of 1/2-inch for deeper diving, also a lengthened stern and fining at the bows to reduce noise and improve underwater handling.
They were sometimes referred to as Vampire-class submarines after HMS Vampire.
The vessels which were ordered are shown below in their programme order (not all completed construction):
The first eight vessels were ordered on 5 December 1941 under that year's programme.
The next eighteen vessels were ordered on 21 May 1942 under that year's programme, but six of these were cancelled in early 1944.
A further six vessels were ordered on 17 November 1942 under the same year's programme, but four of these were cancelled on 23 January 1944.
Finally, a further ten vessels were ordered under the 1943 Programme, but all of these were cancelled on 20 November 1943; eight of these were never given names.