HMS C23

HMS C23 was one of 38 C-class submarines built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. The boat survived the First World War and was sold for scrap in 1920.

History
United Kingdom
NameHMS C23
BuilderVickers, Barrow
Laid down7 February 1908
Launched26 November 1908
Commissioned5 May 1909
FateSold, 5 December 1920
General characteristics
Class and typeC-class submarine
Displacement
  • 290 long tons (290 t) surfaced
  • 320 long tons (330 t) submerged
Length142 ft 3 in (43.4 m)
Beam13 ft 7 in (4.1 m)
Draught11 ft 6 in (3.5 m)
Installed power
  • 600 bhp (450 kW) petrol
  • 300 hp (220 kW) electric
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13 kn (24 km/h; 15 mph) surfaced
  • 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range910 nmi (1,690 km; 1,050 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) on the surface
Test depth100 feet (30.5 m)
Complement2 officers and 14 ratings
Armament2 × 18 in (450 mm) bow torpedo tubes

Design and description

The C-class boats of the 1907–08 and subsequent Naval Programmes were modified to improve their speed, both above and below the surface. 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 290 long tons (290 t) on the surface and 320 long tons (330 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 12-cylinder[2] 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 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) on the surface and 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 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).[3]

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.[4]

Construction and career

HMS C23 was laid down on 7 February 1908 by Vickers at their Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, launched on 26 November, and completed on 5 May 1909. During World War I, the boat was generally used for coastal defence and training in home waters. C23 was sold on 5 December 1920.

Notes

  1. Gardiner & Gray, p. 87
  2. Harrison, Chapter 25
  3. Harrison, Chapters 3
  4. Harrison, Chapter 27

References

  • Akermann, Paul (2002). Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955 (reprint of the 1989 ed.). Penzance, Cornwall: Periscope Publishing. ISBN 1-904381-05-7.
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  • Harrison, A. N. (January 1979). "The Development of HM Submarines From Holland No. 1 (1901) to Porpoise (1930) (BR3043)". RN Subs. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
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