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This TL is on how to improve RN's submarine service in WW2. I'm aiming to do this by not introducing new technology or financial resources, but rather using the existing resources differently in somewhat plausible way.

It's also an exercise in gaining information and insights, so any comments are welcome. Information on previous thread was already fantastic, thank you!

Part 1 - 1919 to 1924 - O-class and new designs for mass production

As a winner of First World War the Royal Navy was the most prestigeous naval force in the world. The Royal Navy submarine service, although escaping general attention, had acquited itself rather well during the Great War. From Dardanelles to the Baltic the submarines had proven themselves of being capable weapons. The great U-boat campaign against Empire shipping had been defeated by means of new tactics and technology.

The country was filled with relatively new submarines, especially those of rather minor size, and thus the early 1920's were rather spent in developing new types of submarines for various possible future scenarios.

In 1922 the first post-war construction project, an Overseas Patrol submarine was specified, ordered in 1923-1924 Estimates to be completed in 1927. They were followed quickly by OA1 and OA2 which were to be delivered to the Australian Navy. (O class development as in OTL, but only 3 ordered).

While RN was satisfied with O-class when it was on the drawing board and also after it entered service after improvement, the O-class submarine was clearly too luxurious for post-war finances, which were thought to worsen rather than improve. A submarine could only be at one place at any given time, the amount of submarines would have value of it's own. Thus in 1924 a large series of wargames was held to try to out various submarine concepts and possible tactical operations. As imaginary enemies Soviet, French, Italian, Japanese and US Navies and above all, their maritime traffic, was analyzed.

With the experience of the Great War in background it was also felt that submarines would, could and should be mass produced during the conflict. Thus peacetime boats should not be only operational boats but they would also form a nucleus for an expanding submarine fleet. They should also be designed from the outset for mass production pioneered by both Germans and the United States during the First World War.

What kind of submarines should be designed and built, then? Fleet submarine development had been a disaster with well known K-class. The M-class submarine monitors were also very expensive and tactically deficient. The single cruiser type submarine X1 was being constructed, but it was also very expensive.

Thus two general types of submarines were to be developed further - a long range "Overseas" patrol submarine for overseas services primarily in the Far East, and a shorter range "Home service" boat for European and Mediterranean services but also for defending Malaya and operating in waters close.
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