C3
| Built By: | Vickers (Barrow) |
| Build Group: | C |
| Fate: | Filled with explosives and rammed into the viaduct at the Mole at Zeebrugge |
C3
By 1917 German submarines had wreaked havoc on British shipping, which threatened Britain's very ability to continue to fight. It was decided that the best way to stop the carnage was to block the gateways by which the U-boats entered the North Sea, namely Ostend and Zeebrugge. A plan was devised for an assault on the harbours, a key part of which entailed the partial destruction of the viaduct connecting the Zeebrugge Mole to the mainland to prevent reinforcements being rushed from nearby Bruges. This part of the assault required the use of submarines, which were to be packed with explosives, and rammed against the viaduct; the antiquated C1 and C3 were selected for the task.
On 24th April 1918 the submarines were towed by destroyers to an assembly point where they were to make their own way to the viaduct. The Submarine (manned by a volunteer skeleton crew) rammed the viaduct at 9 knots and stuck fast. The crew took to motorboats, as a 12-minute fuse was set. With the motorboats only 200 yards away the submarine erupted blowing a large hole in the viaduct.
The skeleton crew succeeded in evacuating the boat before the explosion. There were no fatal casualties but several of the crew were wounded whilst escaping, all were rescued and returned home safely and were decorated for their bravery.
They were:
- Lieutenant Richard Douglas Sandford, RN was awarded the Victoria Cross
- Lieutenant John Howell-Price, RNR awarded the Distinguished Service Order
- PO Coxswain Walter Harner, awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
- L/Sea William Gladstone Cleaver, awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
- ERA3 Allan Gordon Roxburgh, awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
- Sto1 Henry Cullis Bendall, awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
Submarine C1, also with a volunteer crew, had been intended to conduct a joint attack with C3 but was delayed by defects and returned home.
Events
| 25-11-1905 : | Laid Down |
| 03-10-1906 : | Launched |
| 23-02-1907 : | Completed |
| 24-04-1918 : | C3 was Filled with explosives and rammed into the viaduct at the Mole at Zeebrugge. By 1917 German submarines had wreaked havoc on British shipping, which threatened Britain's very ability to continue to fight. It was decided that the best way to stop the carnage was to block the gateways by which the U-boats entered the North Sea, namely Ostend and Zeebrugge. A plan was devised for an assault on the harbours, a key part of which entailed the partial destruction of the viaduct connecting the Zeebrugge Mole to the mainland to prevent reinforcements being rushed from nearby Bruges. This part of the assault required the use of submarines, which were to be pack ed with explosives, and rammed against the viaduct; the antiquated C1 and C3 were selected for the task. On 24th April 1918 the submarines were towed by destroyers to an assembly point where they were to make their own way to the viaduct. C3 rammed the viaduct at 9 knots and stuck fast. The crew took to motorboats, as a 12-minute fuse was set. With the motorboats only 200 yards away the submarine erupted blowing a large hole in the viaduct. |
| 23-07-1918 : | The King was Graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to Lieutenant Richard Douglas Sandford, Royal Navy for the conspicuous gallantry. |
Comments
0 comments
This form is for you to comment on, or add additional information to this page. Any questions will be deleted. If you wish to ask a question or otherwise contact the Branch or the Webmaster. Please use the Contact Us page or ask your question on our Facebook Page
Note: All submissions are subject to webmaster approval prior to appearing on the page. As a SPAM prevention measure, any comments containing links to other sites will be automatically discarded
