HMS C11

HMS C11 was one of 38 C-class submarines built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. The boat was lost after being rammed in 1909.

HMS C38 - a typical C-class submarine
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS C11
Builder: Vickers, Barrow
Laid down: 6 April 1906
Launched: 27 March 1907
Commissioned: 3 September 1907
Fate: Sunk in collision 14 July 1909
General characteristics
Class and type: C-class submarine
Displacement:
  • 287 long tons (292 t) surfaced
  • 316 long tons (321 t) submerged
Length: 142 ft 3 in (43.4 m)
Beam: 13 ft 7 in (4.1 m)
Draught: 11 ft 6 in (3.5 m)
Installed power:
  • 600 bhp (450 kW) petrol
  • 300 hp (220 kW) electric
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) submerged
Range: 910 nmi (1,690 km; 1,050 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) on the surface
Test depth: 100 feet (30.5 m)
Complement: 2 officers and 14 ratings
Armament: 2 × 18 in (450 mm) bow torpedo tubes

Design and description

The C class was essentially a repeat of the preceding B class, albeit with better performance underwater. The submarine had a length of 142 feet 3 inches (43.4 m) overall, a beam of 13 feet 7 inches (4.1 m) and a mean draft of 11 feet 6 inches (3.5 m). They displaced 287 long tons (292 t) on the surface and 316 long tons (321 t) submerged. The C-class submarines had a crew of two officers and fourteen ratings.[1]

For surface running, the boats were powered by a single 16-cylinder 600-brake-horsepower (447 kW) Vickers petrol engine that drove one propeller shaft. When submerged the propeller was driven by a 300-horsepower (224 kW) electric motor.[1] They could reach 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) on the surface and 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) underwater. On the surface, the C class had a range of 910 nautical miles (1,690 km; 1,050 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).[2]

The boats were armed with two 18-inch (45 cm) torpedo tubes in the bow. They could carry a pair of reload torpedoes, but generally did not as they would have to remove an equal weight of fuel in compensation.[3]

Construction and career

C11 was built by Vickers at their Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, laid down on 6 April 1906 and was commissioned on 3 September 1907. The boat was sunk in a collision with the collier Eddystone in the North Sea south of Cromer, Norfolk on 14 July 1909.[4] There were only three survivors.[4] Attempts were made to salvage the stricken submarine but they were abandoned in September 1909, after only a single body had been recovered.[5] The wreck was rediscovered in the late 1990s.

Notes
  1. Gardiner & Gray, p. 87
  2. Harrison, Chapter 3
  3. Harrison, Chapter 27
  4. Gray, Edwyn (2003). Disasters of the Deep A Comprehensive Survey of Submarine Accidents & Disasters. Leo Cooper. p. 64. ISBN 0-85052-987-5.
  5. "Naval Matters—Past and Prospective: Sheerness Dockyard". The Marine Engineer and Naval Architect. Vol. 32. October 1909. p. 98.
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References

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