NAVYPEDIA

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
C1	I31		Vickers, Barrow	03/1905	10.7.1906	11.1906	sold 10.1920
C2	I32		Vickers, Barrow	11.1905	10.7.1906	11.1906	sold 10.1920
C3	I33		Vickers, Barrow	11.1905	3.10.1906	2.1907	expended 23.4.1918
C4	I34		Vickers, Barrow	11/1905	18.10.1906	3/1907	sold 4.1922
C5	I35		Vickers, Barrow	11.1905	20.8.1906	4.1907	sold 10.1919
C6	I36		Vickers, Barrow	11.1905	20.8.1906	1.1907	sold 11.1919
C7	I37		Vickers, Barrow	12.1905	15.2.1907	5.1907	sold 12.1919
C8	I38		Vickers, Barrow	12.1905	15.2.1907	5.1907	sold 10.1920
C9	I39		Vickers, Barrow	1/1906	3.4.1907	6/1907	sold 7.1922
C10	I30		Vickers, Barrow	1/1906	15.4.1907	7/1907	sold 7.1922
C11			Vickers, Barrow	4.1906	27.5.1907	9.1907	collision 14.7.1909
C12	I42		Vickers, Barrow	11.1906	9.9.1907	1.1908	sold 2.1920
C13	I43		Vickers, Barrow	11.1906	9.11.1907	2.1908	sold 2.1920
C14	I44		Vickers, Barrow	12.1906	7.12.1907	3.1908	sold 12.1921
C15	I45		Vickers, Barrow	12/1906	21.1.1908	4/1908	sold 2.1922
C16	I46		Vickers, Barrow	12/1906	19.3.1908	6/1908	sold 8.1922
C17	I47		Chatham DYd	3.1907	13.8.1908	5.1909	sold 11.1919
C18	I48		Chatham DYd	3.1907	10.10.1908	7.1909	sold 5.1921
C19	I49		Chatham DYd	6.1908	20.3.1909	11.1909	sold 2.1920
C20	I50		Chatham DYd	6.1908	27.11.1909	1.1910	sold 5.1921
C21	I51		Vickers, Barrow	2.1908	26.9.1908	5.1909	sold 12.1921
C22	I52		Vickers, Barrow	2.1908	10.10.1908	5.1909	sold 2.1920
C23	I53		Vickers, Barrow	2.1908	26.11.1908	5.1909	sold 12.1921
C24	I54		Vickers, Barrow	2.1908	26.11.1908	5.1909	sold 5.1921
C25	I55		Vickers, Barrow	2.1908	10.3.1909	5.1909	sold 12.1921
C26	I56		Vickers, Barrow	2.1908	20.3.1909	5.1909	scuttled 4.4.1918
C27	I57		Vickers, Barrow	6.1908	22.4.1909	8.1909	scuttled 4.4.1918
C28	I58		Vickers, Barrow	3.1908	22.4.1909	8.1909	sold 8.1921
C29	I59		Vickers, Barrow	6.1908	19.6.1909	9.1909	sunk 29.8.1915
C30	I60		Vickers, Barrow	6.1908	19.7.1909	10.1909	sold 8.1921
C31	I61		Vickers, Barrow	1.1909	2.9.1909	11.1909	sunk 4.1.1915
C32	I62		Vickers, Barrow	1.1909	29.9.1909	11.1909	stranded 24.10.1917
C33	I63		Chatham DYd	3.1909	10.5.1910	8.1910	sunk 4.8.1915
C34	I64		Chatham DYd	3.1909	8.6.1910	9.1910	sunk 21.7.1917
C35	I65		Vickers, Barrow	3.1909	2.11.1909	2.1910	scuttled 4.4.1918
C36	I66		Vickers, Barrow	3.1909	30.11.1909	2.1910	sold 6.1919
C37	I67		Vickers, Barrow	4.1909	1.1.1910	3.1910	sold 6.1919
C38	I68		Vickers, Barrow	4.1909	10.2.1910	3.1910	sold 6.1919
CC1 (RCN)			Seattle Co, USA	1912	3.6.1913	8.1914	sold 1925
CC2 (RCN)			Seattle Co, USA	1912	31.12.1913	8.1914	sold 1925

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	C1 - 38: 287 - 290 / 316 - 320 CC1, 2: 313 / 373
Length, m	C1 - 38: 43.3 CC1: 44.0 CC2: 48.0
Breadth, m	C1 - 38: 4.12 CC1: 4.57 CC2: 4.26
Draught, m	C1 - 38: 3.40 - 3.51 CC1, 2: 3.35
No of shafts	1
Machinery	1 16-cyl Vickers petrol engine / 1 electric motor
Power, h. p.	C1 - 38: 600 / 300 CC1: 600 / 240 CC2: 600 / 260
Max speed, kts	C1 - 38: 13 / 7.5 CC1, 2: 13 / 10.2
Fuel, t	petrol 16
Endurance, nm(kts)	740(12) / 10(7.5)
Armament	C1 - 38: 2 - 450 TT (bow, 4) CC1: 5 - 450 TT (4 bow, 1 stern, 5) CC2: 3 - 450 TT (2 bow, 1 stern, 3)
Complement	C1 - 38: 16 CC1, 2: 18
Diving depth operational, m	30

Standard scale images

Project history

Having built three classes of submarines the Admiralty felt confident in embarking on a large production-run from 1906. In retrospect the decision to build 38 submarines to what was essentially a small coastal design was a mistake, for it delayed the introduction of proper overseas patrol submarines. The blame rests largely with Fisher, who saw submarines as useful for harbour defence, as a substitute for minefields. However, in spite of their petrol engines and the lack of space and endurance they saw continuous war service. Six were built by Chatham DYd to ensure the Royal Dockyards' ability to keep up with progress in submarine design. Appearance was similar to the 'B' class, but without the diving planes amidships. Some were camouflaged late in the war.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

C1 was converted in 1918 to destroy the viaduct during the Zeebugge Raid, but was kept in reserve. C3 was nominally attached to 6th Flotilla for Zeebrugge Raid, 23 April 1918, when she was loaded with explosives to blow up the viaduct connecting the Mole to the shore. C11 was sunk in collision with s/s Eddystone off Cromer 14.7.1909. C14 and C17 were also sunk in collisions (with Hopper No 27 on 10 December 1913, and with destroyer Lurcher in May 1917 respectively), but both were raised and repaired. C26, C27 and C35 were sent on Detached Service to the Baltic from 1916, going out as deck cargo to Archangel, then by canal barge and rail to Lapvik on the Gulf of Finland. All were scuttled on 4 April 1918 off Helsingfors to avoid surrender to Germans. C32 was also sent to the Baltic in 1916; she was stranded and destroyed in Gulf of Riga. С31 and С33 were lost 4.1.1915 and 4.8.1915 for the unknown reasons, off Belgian coast and in the North Sea respectively. С34 was torpedoed 21.7.1917 by German submarine U52 off North Ireland, С29 was mined 29.8.1915 in the North Sea.