Editing XE-class submarine (section)

{{Short description|1944 class of British midget submarines}}
{{Redirect|XE3|camera model|Fujifilm X-E3}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2013}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
| sclass = 2
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Submarine XE4 at Sydney 1945.jpg
| Ship caption = ''XE4'' in [[Port Jackson|Sydney Harbour]], 1945
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
| Builders = 
| Operators = {{navy|United Kingdom}}
| Class before = {{sclass2|X|submarine|4}}
| Class after =
| Subclasses = 
| Built range = 
| In commission range = 
| Total ships building = 
| Total ships planned = 16
| Total ships completed = 15
| Total ships cancelled = 1
| Total ships active = 
| Total ships laid up = 
| Total ships lost = 
| Total ships retired = 13
| Total ships preserved = 2
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship type = 
| Ship displacement = * {{convert|30.25|LT|t|abbr=on|0}} surfaced
* {{convert|33.5|LT|t|abbr=on|0}} submerged
| Ship length = {{convert|53.25|ft|m|abbr=on|2}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|5.75|ft|m|abbr=on|2}}
| Ship draught = {{convert|5.3|ft|m|abbr=on|2}}
| Ship propulsion = * Single shaft
* One [[L Gardner & Sons|Gardner]] 4-cyl [[diesel engine]] {{convert|42|hp|kW|abbr=on|lk=in|0}} at 1,800 [[Revolutions per minute|rpm]]
* One Keith Blackman [[electric motor]] {{convert|30|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}} at 1,650 rpm
| Ship speed = * {{convert|6.5|kn|kph|lk=in|1}} surfaced
* {{convert|5.5|kn|kph|1}} submerged
| Ship range = * {{convert|500|nmi|km|lk=in|abbr=on}} surfaced
* {{convert|82|nmi|km|abbr=on|1}} at {{convert|2|kn|kph|1}} submerged
| Ship endurance = 
| Ship test depth = {{convert|300|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
| Ship complement = 4–5
| Ship sensors = 
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = *2 × {{convert|4,400|lb|kg|abbr=on|0}} detachable explosive charges
*6 × {{convert|20|lb|kg|abbr=on|0}} [[limpet mine]]s 

| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

The '''XE-class submarines''' were a series of twelve [[midget submarine]]s that were built for the [[Royal Navy]] during 1944; four more to a slightly different design were built 1954-5 as the [[Stickleback-class submarine|''Stickleback'' class]]. They were an improved version of the {{sclass2|X|submarine|4}} used in the attack on the [[Kriegsmarine|German]] [[battleship]] {{ship|German battleship|Tirpitz||2}}.

They carried a crew of four, typically a [[Lieutenant (Royal Navy)|lieutenant]] in command, with a [[sub-lieutenant]] as deputy, an [[Engine Room Artificer|engine room artificer]] in charge of the mechanical side and a [[Seaman (rank)|seaman]] or leading-seaman. At least one of them was qualified as a [[military diving|diver]].

In addition to the two [[Naval mine|side charges]] (each of which contained two tons of [[amatol]] explosive), they carried around six {{convert|20|lb|kg|adj=on|0}} [[limpet mine]]s which were attached to the target by the diver.

They and their depot ship {{HMS|Bonaventure|F139|6}} arrived at [[Labuan]] in July 1945. Four of them managed to take part in operations before the war ended.