HMSC17

HMSC17
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMSC17
Builder	Chatham Dockyard
Laid down	11 March 1907
Launched	13 August 1908
Commissioned	13 May 1909
Fate	Sold for scrap, 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	600bhp(450 kW)petrol 300 hp (220 kW) electric
Propulsion	1 × 16-cylinder Vickers petrol engine 1 ×electric motor
Speed	12kn(22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) submerged
Range	910nmi(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)bowtorpedo tubes

HMSC17was one of 38C-class submarinesbuilt for theRoyal Navyin the first decade of the 20th century. The boat survived theFirst World Warand was sold forscrapin 1919.

Design and description

The C class was essentially a repeat of the precedingB class,albeit with better performance underwater. The submarine had a length of 142 feet 3 inches (43.4 m)overall,abeamof 13 feet 7 inches (4.1 m) and a meandraftof 11 feet 6 inches (3.5 m). Theydisplaced287 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 fourteenratings.

For surface running, the boats were powered by a single 16-cylinder 600-brake-horsepower(447 kW)Vickerspetrol enginethat drove onepropeller shaft.When submerged the propeller was driven by a 300-horsepower (224 kW)electric motor.They could reach 12knots(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 910nautical miles(1,690 km; 1,050 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).

The boats were armed with two18-inch (45 cm)torpedo tubesin 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.

Construction and career

C17was built by Chatham Dockyard,laid downon 11 March 1907 and was commissioned on 13 May 1909. The boat collided withC16in theNorth Sea,east ofCromer,Norfolkon 14 July 1909, and in May 1917 she collided with thedestroyerLurcherand sank. She was repaired, but was sold for scrap on 20 November 1919.

References

• Akermann, Paul (2002).Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955(reprint of the 1989 ed.). Penzance, Cornwall: Periscope Publishing.ISBN1-904381-05-7.
• 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.ISBN978-1-86176-281-8.
• Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN0-85177-245-5.
• Harrison, A. N. (January 1979)."The Development of HM Submarines From Holland No. 1 (1901) to Porpoise (1930) (BR3043)".RN Subs.Retrieved27 September2022.