Taking the identifying letter from the name of the builder, the V Class was Vickers' interpretation of a coastal-type submarine designed to meet the requirements of the 1912 Submarine Committee.
Four of the class were ordered, the first being laid down in November 1912. The principal design feature was in the hull form. Although classed as double-hulled, the V boats were actually partial double-hulled vessels - the double-hull being limited to the middle portion of the boat, with the outer hull fairing into the pressure hull at the forward and after ends. Vickers carried out a number of tank experiments on several hull forms before opting for this design. The estimated cost of the four V Class submarines was £76 100 each, but this was later amended to £75 799.
