The C class submarines were five boats built for the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts, under a subcontract from the Electric Boat Company. Built between 1906–1909, and in commission from 1908–1919, all five were subsequently sold for scrap in 1920.

Service history

The C-class submarines served in the Atlantic Fleet

United States Fleet Forces Command

The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...

. On 20 May 1913, the five C-class boats of the First Group, Submarine Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet, departed Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....

  for Guantanamo Bay

Guantanamo Bay Naval Base

Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is located on of land and water at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba which the United States leased for use as a coaling station following the Cuban-American Treaty of 1903. The base is located on the shore of Guantánamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the oldest overseas...

, Cuba. They exercised in Cuban waters, principally conducting torpedo practices, until 7 December 1913. On that date the C-class boats, now of the redesignated First Division, escorted by four surface ships, sailed for Cristóbal

Cristóbal, Colón

Cristóbal is a port in the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal. It is located on the western edge of Manzanillo Island and is part of the Panamanian city and province of Colón...

 in the Panama Canal Zone

Panama Canal Zone

The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...

. Five days later the ships completed the 700 mile passage, at that time the longest cruise made by United States submarines under their own power. The submarines remained there until decommissioned in 1919.

Ships

was launched on 4 October 1906 as and commissioned on 30 June 1908. Renamed C-1 on 17 November 1911, the submarine was decommissioned on 4 August 1919, and sold for scrap on 13 April 1920. was launched on 8 April 1909 as and commissioned on 23 November 1909. Renamed C-2 on 17 November 1911, the submarine was decommissioned on 23 December 1919, and sold for scrap on 13 April 1920. was launched on 8 April 1909 as and commissioned on 23 November 1909. Renamed C-3 on 17 November 1911, the submarine was decommissioned on 23 December 1919, and sold for scrap on 12 April 1920. was launched on 17 June 1909 as and commissioned on 23 November 1909. Renamed C-4 on 17 November 1911, the submarine was decommissioned on 15 August 1919, and sold for scrap on 13 April 1920. was launched on 16 June 1908 as and commissioned on 2 February 1910. Renamed C-5 on 17 November 1911, the submarine was decommissioned on 23 December 1919, and sold for scrap on 13 April 1920.

External links

• pigboats.com : The C-boats (images and crew lists)