HMS C6

HMS C38 - a typical C class submarine
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS C6
Builder: Vickers, Barrow
Laid down: 24 November 1905
Launched: 20 August 1906
Commissioned: 21 January 1907
Fate: Sold for scrapping, 20 November 1919
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

HMS C6 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 1919.

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

C6 was laid down on 24 November 1905 by Vickers at their Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, launched on 20 August 1906, and completed on 21 January 1907. During the war, the boat was generally used for coastal defence and training. C6 was sold for scrap on 20 November 1919.

Notes

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

References

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