To manage the speed requirement, HMS Thames was given lighter weight diesels, a smaller-caliber deck gun and special lighter diesel fuel. This helped to promote improved operating speeds - a key component in keeping up with the British surface fleet - though the surface fleet requirement was eventually lessened to the point that Thames became primarily a long-range patrol vessel charged with hunting enemy ships. The speed of the British surface fleet had advanced to capabilities beyond what any submarine of the period could manage.
As built, Thames was given a length of 345 feet, a beam of 28.2 feet and a draught of 15.10 feet. She proved wider than the preceding K-class and some six feet shorter. Displacement was 2,165 tons when surfaced and 2,680 tons when submerged. Her profile was conventional with a sail arranged at amidships, a well-contoured bow and a stern containing the twin screws and rudder control. Performance specifications included a surfaced speed of 22 knots with a submerged speed of 10 knots. Her entire complement numbered 61 and her armament consisted of 6 x 21" (533mm) torpedo tubes in bow-facing positions (with 12 x reloads) and a single 4" Mk XII deck gun. There were no stern-facing torpedo tubes in the design - a feature seen in many wartime submarines.
During 1939, HMS Thames operated in British home waters. World War broke out in Europe with the German invasion of Poland in September and Thames operated as part of the 2nd Submarine Flotilla. Her primary sorties saw her undertaking various patrols in search of German targets - primarily raiders and enemy submarines - and this led her to waters off of Norway as Germany looked to conquer the Scandinavian nation during the April-June Norwegian Campaign of 1940. She managed to sink the Luchs, a German torpedo boat during July though her operational career was rather short-lived. While operating with the 9th Submarine Flotilla later that year, Thames is believed to have struck a mine and as lost with all hands sometime in July or August of 1940. Thus ended the career of HMS Thames.
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