[7] The submarines of the K XIV class were fully riveted and their pressure hull were made of 14 mm thick steel.

[9] However, this did allow the submarines of the K XIV class to dive as deep as 80 meters,[10] while withstanding the enormous water pressure.

[17][13] Besides the two diesel engines, the submarines also had two electric motors that each could produce 430 hp and 192 cells batteries with a capacity of 4740 Ah.

[10] The submarines of the K XIV class were equipped with passive sonars made by the German firm Atlas-Werke.

The fourth compartment was the nerve center of the K XIV class submarines, since this was the place where all control panels, instruments and command tower were located.

The submarine also had one twin external trainable mount amidships that hosted two torpedo tubes.

[3][7][25] During this major refit the bridge of both boats were reconstructed, which resulted in the loss of the forward 40 mm anti-aircraft guns.

K XIV, K XV and K XVI were built by Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij and K XVII and K XVIII at the Wilton-Fijenoord shipyard.