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HMSC27

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

History
United Kingdom
NameHMSC27
BuilderVickers,Barrow
Laid down4 June 1908
Launched22 April 1909
Commissioned14 August 1909
FateScuttled, 5 April 1918, salvaged and scrapped August 1953
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
  • 600bhp(450 kW) petrol
  • 300 hp (220 kW) electric
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13kn(24 km/h; 15 mph) surfaced
  • 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range910nmi(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)bowtorpedo tubes

HMSC27was one of 38C-class submarinesbuilt for theRoyal Navyin the first decade of the 20th century.

Design and description

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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,abeamof 13 feet 7 inches (4.1 m) and a meandraftof 11 feet 6 inches (3.5 m). Theydisplaced290 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 fourteenratings.[1]

For surface running, the boats were powered by a single 12-cylinder[2]600-brake-horsepower(447 kW)Vickerspetrol enginethat drove onepropeller shaft.When submerged the propeller was driven by a 300-horsepower (224 kW)electric motor.[1]They could reach 13knots(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 910nautical miles(1,690 km; 1,050 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).[3]

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.[4]

Construction and career

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HMSC27was built byVickers,Barrow.She was laid down on 4 June 1908 and was commissioned on 14 August 1909. HMSC27along with the trawlerPrincess Louise(ex-Princess Marie Jose) sankU-23in theFair Isle ChannelbetweenOrkneyandShetlandon 20 July 1915 using theU-boattrap tactic. The tactic was to use a decoy trawler to tow asubmarine.When a U-boat was sighted, the tow line and communication line was slipped and the submarine would attack the U-boat. The tactic was partly successful, but was abandoned after the loss of two C class submarines. In both cases, all the crew were lost.

HMSC27was involved inthe Baltic operationsfrom 1915 to 1918. The boat was scuttled on 5 April 1918 outside Helsingfors (nowHelsinki) south of theHarmaja Light(Gråhara) to avoid seizure by advancing German forces. HMSC27was salvaged for breaking up inFinlandin August 1953.

Notes

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

References

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  • 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.
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