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C 25 (I 55)

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: C2
Fate: Scrapped in December 1921
C25 being bombed from the air when she suffered severe loss of life and was nearly lost with all hands
C25 being bombed from the air when she suffered severe loss of life and was nearly lost with all hands

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Commanders
1909: Lieutenant   Bell

1914: 7th Flotilla Chatham, HMS Vulcan and Alecto

Related Pages

The Ordeal Of HMS C25

On 6 July 1918, a squadron of German seaplanes returning from a daylight raid on Lowestoft and Walmer, caught a Harwich-based British C-class submarine napping on the surface. When the boat was eventually towed into port she was literally a bloody shambles, her captain and nearly half her crew were dead and several others wounded. Yet, even this tragic event had its share of heroism

Roll of Honour

6
Barge, William
J 124
Died: 6th Jul, 1918.
Aged: 26
Leading Seaman
Borrow, William George
237304
Died: 6th Jul, 1918.
Aged: 27
Petty Officer
& Coxswain
Buttle, Charles Arthur
J 9244
Died: 6th Jul, 1918.
Aged: 3
Signalman
Courtenay Bell, David
Died: 6th Jul, 1918.
Aged: 23
Lieutenant
Hamilton, George Sidney
J 26612
Died: 6th Jul, 1918.
Aged: 20
Able Seaman
Walsh, John Marcian
J 10812
Died: 6th Jul, 1918.
Aged: 24
Able Seaman

Events

 27-02-1908   Laid Down
 10-03-1909   Launched
 28-05-1909   Completed
 06-07-1918   A squadron of German seaplanes returning from a daylight raid on Lowestoft and Walmer, caught a Harwich-based British C-class submarine napping on the surface. When the boat was eventually towed into port she was literally a bloody shambles

The Commanding Officer and 5 crew members were killed. Another submarine came to their assistance, both boats were eventually saved by HMS Lurcher.
C2 Specification
Length overall  143 ft
Beam  13 ft
Draught  11.5 ft
Displacement  Surface 290 tons
  Submerged 321 tons
Diving Depth  100 ft
Speed  Surface 13 knots (design)
  Surface 13+ knots (service)
  Submerged 7.5+ knots (design)
  Submerged 8 knots (service)
Machinery  600 hp petrol engine
  200 hp electric motor
Fuel  15.5 tons (Petrol)
No. of shafts  1
Propeller  3 blades, 5 ft 7 inch diameter
Armament  2 x 18 inch bow torpedo tubes (4 torpedoes carried)
Endurance  Surface: 1300 miles at 9 knots (design)
  Surface: 910 miles at full power (service)
  Submerged: 16 miles at 8 knots
Complement  2 x officers, 14 x ratings
Comments

Comment by: barrie Downer on April 4th, 2016

Paul
One Able Seaman (who was the Lewis Gunner) was killed on the Bridge and an Able Seaman was killed in the Conning Tower. I don't know which one was which but your GGF may well have been on the Bridge. The others killed were the Commanding Officer, the Coxswain, a Leading Seaman and the Signalman

Comment by: Paul campling on March 28th, 2016

Able seaman George Sidney Hamilton was my Great Grandfather, I was left his medals and other pictures and things by my late Grandfather. I believe he may have been one of those who were initially on the conning tower of the vessel whenot it came under attack.

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Scythian (P 237)

Class: 1935 - 1970: Improved S Class
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Build Group: S3
Fate:
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