View source for CC-class submarine

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin|sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= Subs HMCS CC-1 and HMCS CC-2 in harbour.jpg
|Ship image size=250px
|Ship caption= HMCS ''CC-1'' and HMCS ''CC-2''
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name= CC class
|Builders=[[Seattle Construction and Drydock Company]]
|Operators={{navy|Canada|naval-1911}}
|Class before= None
|Class after= [[British H-class submarine|H class]]
|Subclasses=
|Cost=
|Built range=1913
|In service range=
|In commission range=1914–1920
|Total ships planned=
|Total ships completed=2
|Total ships cancelled=
|Total ships scrapped=2
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type=[[Submarine]]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|313|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} surfaced
*{{convert|373|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} submerged
|Ship length= {{convert|144|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|15|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|11|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth=
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=[[MAN SE|MAN]] 6-cylinder diesel engine 
|Ship speed={{convert|13|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range=
|Ship endurance=
|Ship test depth={{convert|200|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=18 (2 officers, 16 enlisted)
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=5 × {{convert|18|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s firing [[Whitehead torpedo|Whitehead Mark IV]]
|Ship armour=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
The '''CC-class submarine''' was the first class of [[submarine]]s used by the [[Royal Canadian Navy]]. Designed as diesel-electric submarines for use as coastal defence, they were originally purchased by the province of [[British Columbia]] from a shipbuilder in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]], which had built the submarines for the [[Chilean Navy]]. Acquired by Canada they saw no battle while in service during the [[World War I|First World War]] and were [[Ship decommissioning|paid off]] in 1920. They were the first Canadian warships to pass through the Panama Canal.<ref name=m1>Macpherson & Barrie, p. 15</ref> Both ships were discarded in 1925.

==Design==
The two submarines were not identical. The design called for diesel-electric submarines for use as coastal defence. However, the Electric Boat Company employed two separate designs with the same internal machinery for the submarines. ''CC-1'' was built to the design 19E and ''CC-2'' was built to design 19B. The layout of the [[torpedo tube]]s within the boats led to different hull forms. ''CC-1'' was armed with five {{convert|18|in|mm|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes, four forward and one astern.<ref name=j1>Johnston et al. p. 312</ref><ref name=perkins33>Perkins, p. 33</ref> This gave the submarine a bluff [[Bow (ship)|bow]] shape.<ref name=perkins33/> ''CC-2'' was armed with three torpedo tubes of the same size, two forward and one astern.<ref name=j1/><ref name=perkins33/> This gave ''CC-2'' a tapered bow.<ref name=perkins33/> Both ships used [[Whitehead torpedo|Whitehead]] Mk IV {{convert|18|in|mm|adj=on}} torpedoes that had a range of {{convert|1000|yds|m|abbr=on}} at {{convert|25|kn|lk=in|abbr=on}}.<ref name=jf30>Ferguson, 2014. p. 30</ref> The only source for these torpedoes in Canada was {{HMCS|Niobe}}'s stock and it took some time before they were shipped to the submarines.<ref name=j1/>

Due to their different designs, the two submarines had different measurements.<ref name=perkins33/> ''CC-1'' [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] 313 tons and had a [[Length overall|length]] of {{convert|144.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}, a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|15|ft|m|abbr=on}} and a [[Draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|11|ft|m|abbr=on}}. ''CC-2'' displaced 310 tons, had a length of {{convert|157.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|15|ft|m|abbr=on}} and a draught of {{convert|11|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=c1>Colledge, p. 115</ref>

The boats could dive {{convert|200|ft|m|abbr=on}} and unlike modern submarines, the main ballast and trim tanks were located internally. The boats were powered by [[MAN SE|MAN]] 6-cylinder [[diesel engine]]s constructed in the United States under licence.<ref>Perkins, p. 36</ref> The CC class could carry {{convert|5356|gal|L|abbr=on}} of [[diesel fuel]].<ref name=jf28>Ferguson, 2014. p. 28</ref> The two submarines were designed to make {{convert|13|kn}} surfaced and {{convert|10|kn}} submerged, however ''CC-1'' made {{convert|15|kn}} in sea trials in November 1917.<ref name=j1/>

==Origin==
An order for two submarines had originally been placed by Chile in 1911 with the [[General Dynamics Electric Boat|Electric Boat Company]] of [[New Jersey]]. The order was subcontracted to [[Seattle Construction and Drydock Company]] for a total of $818,000.<ref name=j2>Johnston et al. pp. 307–308</ref> The Electric Boat Company then designed and built a boat in a way that could be taken apart and shipped across country to Seattle to be assembled.<ref name=jf8>Ferguson, 2014. p. 8</ref> After sea trials, the submarines now named ''Iquique'' and ''Antofogasta''<ref name=c1/> were refused by the Chilean officials as they had failed to achieve the radius of action demanded in the contract.<ref name=j2/> At the same time, Chile had allowed its progress payments to fall in arrears.<ref name=jf8/> This led the Seattle shipbuilding company to find ways to get rid of the submarines.<ref name=jf8/>

During a meeting of citizens in [[Victoria, British Columbia]] in the buildup to the First World War, J.V. Paterson, the president of the Seattle Construction and Drydock Company, revealed that his firm was willing to sell the two submarines that had recently been completed. This was brought to the attention of Sir [[Richard McBride]], premier of British Columbia. After speaking with several local stakeholders, McBride informed the Government of Canada and the Naval Service (Royal Canadian Navy) that there were two submarines for sale and that they should purchase them for the offered price of $575,000 each. While awaiting their response, McBride agreed to buy the submarines using funds from the government of British Columbia.<ref name=j2/>

On the eve of the First World War, the two submarines left Seattle at 2200 hours on 3 August 1914, sneaking out of harbour as the clearance papers for the two boats had not been obtained at the time. They sailed to meet the [[tugboat]] SS ''Salvor'' outside Canadian waters. At that point, on 4 August 1914, the payment of $1.15 million was made for the two boats.<ref name=j2/>

The next day, the [[United States Navy]] dispatched the [[cruiser]] {{USS|Milwaukee|C-21|6}} to search for the submarines, however by the time the ship reached the area where they had been, the two boats were gone.<ref name=j2/> On 7 August, the Government of Canada passed an [[Order in Council]] assuming responsibility for and purchasing the two warships from British Columbia, the only province of Canada to have owned warships.<ref name=j3>Johnston et al. p. 310</ref> In keeping with an earlier Australian practice when two [[British E-class submarine]]s had been renamed ''AE 1'' and ''AE 2'' by adding the "A" in front of the class to denote Australia, the two submarines purchased by Canada, resembling [[British C-class submarine]]s, had two "C"s placed in front of their names to denote Canada and their apparent class.<ref name=m1/><ref name=j3/>

===Criticism of purchase===
Led by former minister [[William Pugsley]], there was an divergence of opinion concerning the purchase of the submarines. Initially heralded by Prime Minister [[Robert Borden]] as a masterstroke, rumours began to circulate about problems developing on the submarines and the exorbitant cost the Government of British Columbia, and then Canada, had paid and that Paterson, the president of Seattle Construction, had pocketed a large commission. These rumours led to the submarine purchase being investigated by a Royal Commission into dubious war purchases.<ref name=j4>Johnston et al. p. 311</ref>

The Royal Commission headed by Sir Charles Davidson, heard from Philip Watts, the former director of naval construction for the Royal Navy and advisor to the Chilean government regarding the initial design of the submarines, through his letter to the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] during the initial process of acquisition.<ref>Ferguson 2014, pp. 35, 45–46</ref> His assessment was that the boats had been built too heavy.<ref>Ferguson 2014, p. 35</ref> Electric Boat Company had admitted to that the submarines had displayed dangerous diving characteristics and had been in the process of developing alterations to the design when the ships were purchased by the Canadian government. The neutrality of the United States had prevented them from having any further involvement once war had been declared.<ref>Ferguson, 2014. p. 36</ref>

When Electric Boat Company testified, they gave truth to the rumours that Paterson had made a profit off the boats, the sale price they had provided Paterson when he requested the information from the parent company had been lower.<ref>Ferguson 2014, p. 46</ref> The defence of the decision lay in the timing of the deal, the eventual US neutrality, and the Admiralty recommendation to purchase the boats when they had been informed. These three points swayed the Royal Commission in finding in favour of McBride's decision.<ref name=j4/>

==Ships==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Construction data
! scope="col"| Name
! scope="col"| Launched
! scope="col"| Shipyard
! scope="col"| Commissioned
! scope="col"| Fate
|-
| scope="row"|{{HMCS|CC-1||2}} (ex-''Iquique'')
|3 June 1913
|rowspan="2"|[[Seattle Construction and Drydock Company]], [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|rowspan="2"|6 August 1914
|rowspan="2"f|Discarded 1925
|-
| scope="row"|{{HMCS|CC-2||2}} (ex-''Antofagasta'')
|31 December 1913
|-
|}

==Operational history==
After [[Ship commissioning|commissioning]], though without torpedoes, because those had yet to arrive from the east coast, ''CC-2'' was deployed on 13 August 1914 to the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]] as a deterrent to the German raider threat. Later ''CC-1'' joined her as the threat, given form by Admiral [[Maximilian von Spee|Von Spee]]'s Pacific Fleet, increased. However, problems plagued the two boats and they were withdrawn from active service in September 1914 for refit.<ref name=jf30/>

With {{HMS|Shearwater|1900|6}} as their [[Ship's tender|tender]], the two boats were based at [[CFB Esquimalt|Esquimalt, British Columbia]].<ref name=jf30/> They were called ''No.1'' and ''No.2'' until October 1914 when they officially received their new names ''CC-1'' and ''CC-2'' respectively.<ref>Ferguson, 2014. p. 31</ref> Their refit in September and October 1914 was primarily focused on three problems. The first problem was the instability while diving. The boats, especially ''CC-2'', developed uncontrollable negative buoyancy when the ballast tanks were vented. If the tanks were left partially full, the boats would take dangerous nose or tail dives. This required a reduction in weight which led to the removal of all unnecessary stores, fuel and spare parts. This eventually limited the patrol range of the class to only a few days at a time.<ref name=jf32>Ferguson, 2014. pp. 32–33</ref>

The second problem facing the boats was the tendency of the cylinders in the diesel engines to overheat. This problem was never rectified and the cylinders would eventually crack after six hours of running at full speed. This was due to early engine design and metallurgical inadequacies. The third and final problem was temperamental emptying of tanks during diving or surfacing. This was rectified by the refitting of faulty valves.<ref name=jf32/> After refitting, the ships performed various patrol and training cruises along the west coast.<ref name=m1/>

===Transit to east coast===
In 1916 it was suggested by naval planners to bring the CC-class submarines to the east coast.<ref name=j5>Johnston et al. p. 419</ref> During 1917 that became a reality as the Admiralty ordered the two subs and ''Shearwater'' to Europe.<ref name=m1/> On 21 June 1917 the three ships left Esquimalt. Off [[Cape Blanco (Oregon)|Cape Blanco]], the fleet ran into a gale and ''CC-2'' rolled heavily in the seas, seawater contaminating the sub's batteries. Half the crew was incapacitated by [[chlorine gas]]. The high seas also caused the propellers on both the submarines to be tossed out of the water, in turn causing the engines to over-rev. The stabilisation of this problem later caused the battery cells to start to break down and eventually short-circuit and start electrical fires.<ref name=jf75>Ferguson, 2014. pp. 75–77</ref>

The electrical fires led the crews to only operate one diesel engine at a time, as the other was usually under repair. ''CC-1'' had to be towed from that point onward to [[San Francisco]]. ''CC-2'' worked until San Francisco and then both submarines were towed to [[San Diego]]. Confined to port-hopping down the coast and passing through the [[Panama Canal Zone|Canal Zone]], the fleet had to stop at [[Kingston, Jamaica]] to make repairs.<ref name=jf77>Ferguson, 2014. pp. 77–80</ref>

Moving on from Kingston, the three vessels spent five days at [[Charleston, South Carolina]] making more repairs. The fleet attempted to set out, but returned to Charleston for more repairs. They left again and hit a storm, the fleet limping into [[Norfolk, Virginia]], where the submarines spent two weeks in the US Navy dockyard. ''CC-1'' was towed by ''Shearwater'' to [[Newport, Rhode Island]] where after another six days of repair, the fleet set out to finish the transit, arriving at [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]] on 17 October 1917.<ref name=jf77/>

===End of service===
Following their arrival at Halifax, it was found that the two submarines both need an engine overhaul and that neither would be available until mid-August 1918.<ref name=j6>Johnston et al. p. 780</ref> However, the Admiralty insisted that the submarines be made ready for duty in Europe and ordered them to refuel and proceed to the Mediterranean Sea.<ref>Ferguson, 2014. p. 80</ref> Only after the Admiralty was informed of their dire condition did they rescind that order and then ordered them for use as coastal defence on the east coast.<ref>Ferguson, 2014. p. 81</ref>

While under repair at Halifax, the two submarines survived the [[Halifax Explosion]] unscathed.<ref>Ferguson, 2014. p. 83</ref> The Royal Canadian Navy then devised a plan to utilise the two subs in anti-submarine training for the surface vessels. This was done on Cape Breton Island. ''CC-2'' and ''Shearwater'' were sent to Bras d'Or Lake and trained the [[Naval trawler|trawler]] and drifter crews in the use of their hydrophones.<ref name=j6/><ref>Ferguson, 2014. pp. 94–95</ref> The two subs finished the war as training vessels, not going on patrol again before the Armistice.<ref>Ferguson, 2014. p. 95</ref>

Following the war, the [[Royal Navy]] transferred the [[British H-class submarine|H-class]] submarines [[HMCS CH-14|''H14'']] and [[HMCS CH-15|''H15'']] to Canada. The Royal Canadian Navy could not operate both the H class and the CC class, so the decision was made to place the CC class in reserve.<ref>Ferguson, 2014. p. 105</ref> The two submarines were put up for sale in 1920 and were packaged with ''Niobe'' for disposal.<ref name=j7>Johnston et al., p. 853</ref> The three vessels were discarded in 1925.<ref name=m1/><ref name=c1/>

==References==

===Notes===
{{reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
* {{Cite Colledge2006}}
* {{cite book |last=Ferguson |first=Julie H. |date=2014 |title=Through a Canadian Periscope: The Story of the Canadian Submarine Service  |url=https://archive.org/details/throughcanadianp0000ferg |url-access=registration |publisher=Dundurn Press |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-55002-217-9}}
* {{cite book |last1=Johnston |first1=William |last2=Rawling |first2=William G.P. |last3=Gimblett |first3=Richard H. |last4=MacFarlane |first4=John |date=2010 |title=The Seabound Coast: The Official History of the Royal Canadian Navy, 1867–1939 |volume=1 |publisher=Dundurn Press |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-55488-908-2}}
* {{cite book |last1=Macpherson |first1=Ken |last2=Barrie |first2=Ron |date=2002 |title=The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910–2002  |edition=Third |publisher=Vanwell Publishing |location=St. Catharines, Ontario |isbn=1-55125-072-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Perkins |first=Dave |date=1989 |title=Canada's Submariners 1914–1923 |publisher=Boston Mills Press |location=Erin, Ontario |isbn=1-55046-014-5}}

{{CC-class submarine}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:CC Class Submarine}}
[[Category:Submarine classes]]
[[Category:CC-class submarines| ]]
[[Category:Submarines of the Royal Canadian Navy]]
[[Category:Submarines of British Columbia]]