HMS C12 was a C-class submarine of the Royal Navy, one of 38 boats built during the first decade of the 20th century. She was constructed by Vickers at Barrow-in-Furness, laid down on 27 November 1906, launched on 9 September 1907, and commissioned on 19 January 1908.
Design
The C-class represented the final development of the early Holland-type submarines used by the Royal Navy. C12 displaced 287 tons on the surface and 316 tons submerged, carried a crew of 16 (2 officers and 14 ratings), and was armed with two 18-inch bow torpedo tubes.
Powered by a 16-cylinder petrol engine for surface running and an electric motor underwater, she could reach about 12 knots on the surface and 7 knots submerged.
Service Career
Like many early C-class boats, HMS C12 spent much of her career in home waters with coastal defence and training duties. During the First World War, C-class submarines were widely used around Britain's east coast ports, helping protect shipping routes and counter the German submarine threat.
C12 served with the 6th Submarine Flotilla, operating from bases including Chatham and later Portsmouth.
Collision and Sinking
The most dramatic event in C12's career occurred in October 1918, only weeks before the end of the First World War.
While manoeuvring in Immingham Dock in the Humber Estuary, the submarine suffered a failure of her main motors. Unable to regain control, she was carried by the tide into a destroyer moored near the eastern jetty. The collision badly holed the submarine and she sank.
According to submarine service records, the First Lieutenant ordered "all hands on deck" as the boat began to flood while he remained below to assist the evacuation.
Unlike many submarine accidents of the era, the incident did not result in a major loss of life. The boat was subsequently raised and returned to service.
Final Fate
After surviving the war and returning to service following her salvage, HMS C12 was considered obsolete. She was sold for scrap on 2 February 1920.
Key Facts
- Name: HMS C12
- Class: C-class submarine
- Builder: Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness
- Commissioned: 19 January 1908
- Flotilla: 6th Submarine Flotilla
- Accident: Sank after collision with a destroyer in the Humber Estuary on 6 October 1918
- Outcome: Raised, repaired, and recommissioned
- Disposed of: Sold for scrap on 2 February 1920
HMS C12 is remembered as one of the Royal Navy's early submarines that survived both wartime service and a serious sinking accident before being salvaged and returned to duty
