HMS C25

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 {{convert|142|ft|3|in|m|1}} overall, a beam of {{convert|13|ft|7|in|m|1}} and a mean draft of {{convert|11|ft|6|in|m|1}}. They displaced {{convert|290|LT|t}} on the surface and {{convert|320|LT|t}} submerged. The C-class submarines had a crew of two officers and fourteen ratings.Gardiner & Gray, p. 87

For surface running, the boats were powered by a single 12-cylinderHarrison, Chapter 25 {{convert|600|bhp|lk=in|0|adj=on}} Vickers petrol engine that drove one propeller shaft. When submerged the propeller was driven by a {{convert|300|hp|0|adj=on}} electric motor. They could reach {{convert|13|kn|lk=in}} on the surface and {{convert|8|kn}} underwater. On the surface, the C class had a range of {{convert|910|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|12|kn}}.Harrison, Chapters 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.Harrison, Chapter 27

C25 was built by Vickers at Barrow and was commissioned on 28 May 1909.

While on patrol {{convert|15|mi|km|abbr=out}} east of Orford Ness on 6 July 1918, C25 was attacked by five German seaplanes returning from a raid on Lowestoft. Attacking out of the sun, C25 was hit by their machine guns before it could use its single Lewis gun in defence. The commanding officer, Lieutenant David Bell and two of the lookouts on the conning tower were killed outright, the fourth man present was mortally wounded. While the seaplanes continued their attack, the crew tried to drag him inside delaying the dive and then one of the bodies slid across the hull, their leg stopping the hatch from being closed. Two more men were killed trying to push the body clear and in desperation the leg was cut off with a hacksaw. By this point German machine gun fire had punctured the hull and damaged the motors. An E-class submarine arrived in the area and drove off the German aircraft with its deck gun and then took C25 under tow.Grey p243-244. The holes in the pressure hull were plugged by clothes, and {{HMS|E51}} was able to tow C25. The seaplanes returned re-armed and ready to attack again, but they were driven off by the arrival of a destroyer {{HMS|Lurcher|1912|6}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.seawaves.com/newsletters/TDIH/july/06Jul.txt|title=Today in History: 6 July |work=SeaWaves |accessdate=1 February 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Teignmouth/WilliamBargeofTeignmouth.htm |title=The life and death of William Barge |work=Devon Heritage |accessdate=1 February 2015}}

HMS C25 was sold on 5 December 1921.

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|last=Akermann|first=Paul|title=Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955|edition=reprint of the 1989|year=2002|publisher=Periscope Publishing|location=Penzance, Cornwall|isbn=1-904381-05-7}}
• {{Cite Colledge2006}}
• {{cite book |editor1-last=Gardiner|editor1-first=Robert|editor2-last=Gray|editor2-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921|year=1985|location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=0-85177-245-5|name-list-style=amp}}
• {{cite web|url=http://rnsubs.co.uk/dits-bits/br-3043.html|title=The Development of HM Submarines From Holland No. 1 (1901) to Porpoise (1930) (BR3043)|last=Harrison|first=A. N.|date=January 1979|publisher=RN Subs|access-date=27 September 2022}}
• {{cite book |title=British Submarines in the Great War: A Damned Un-English Weapon |last= Gray |first= Edwyn |date= 2001

|publisher= Leo Cooper |location = Barnsley, South Yorkshire}}

• {{cite book |title=Monograph No. 24: Home Waters—Part II: September and October 1914 |series=Naval Staff Monographs (Historical) |volume=XI |year=1924 |publisher=The Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Naval-Staff-Monographs-Vol.XI_opt.pdf|ref={{Harvid|Naval Staff Monograph No. 24|1924}} }}

{{commons}}

• [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/submarines/pages/c_class/c_25_roll_of_honour.htm HMS C25 Roll of Honour]
• [http://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Teignmouth/WilliamBargeofTeignmouth.htm The life and death of William Barge]

{{British C class submarine}}

{{July 1918 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:C25}}

Category:Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness

Category:British C-class submarines

Category:Royal Navy ship names

Category:1909 ships