HMCS CH-15
| CH-14 and CH-15 in drydock.
CH-14 (right) and CH-15 (left) in drydock.
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name: | H-15 |
| Ordered: | November 1915 |
| Builder: | Fore River Co. Quincy |
| Out of service: | 7 February 1919 |
 Canada |
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| Name: | CH-15 |
| Acquired: | 7 February 1919 |
| Commissioned: | 1 April 1921 |
| Decommissioned: | 30 June 1922 |
| Fate: | Discarded 1926, scrapped 1927 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | H-class submarine |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: | 45.8 m (150 ft) o/a |
| Beam: | 4.6 m (15 ft) |
| Draught: | 3.68 m (12.1 ft) |
| Propulsion: | |
| Speed: |
|
| Range: | 1,600 nmi (3,000 km) surfaced, 130 nmi (240 km) submerged |
| Complement: | 22 |
| Armament: |
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HMCS CH-15 was a H class submarine used by the Royal Canadian Navy. Built as H-15 for the Royal Navy, the submarine was activated too late to see service during the First World War. In 1919 she was presented to Canada. Commissioned in 1921, the warship saw only one year of service before decommissioning. She was sold for scrap in 1927.
Contents
Design
The H-class design displaced 364 tons surfaced and 434 tons submerged. CH-15 was 45.8 m (150 ft) long, had a beam of 4.6 m (15 ft) and a draught of 3.68 m (12.1 ft). The ship was powered by twin-shift, 480 hp Vickers diesel and two 620 hp electric motors for running submerged. This gave the submarine a speed of 13 knots (24 km/h) atop the water and 10 knots (19 km/h) below it. The range of the submarine was 1,600 nmi (3,000 km) surfaced and 130 nmi (240 km) submerged.[1]
H-class submarines were armed with four 18-inch torpedo tubes located in the bow. The submarines were provided with space for up to eight reloads.[1]
Service history
In November 1914 the Royal Navy contracted Bethlehem Steel to provide a supply to the Canadian Vickers shipyard in Montreal to build an initial production run of H-class submarines there. The second batch of H-class submarines were to be built by Bethlehem Steel at their Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts. These ships were to be armed only in Montreal. This second batch was seized by the American government due to their neutrality at the time and were only released after the United States had entered the war in 1917.[1] H-15 was one such boat, completed 14 August 1918,[2] though her sea trials were delayed.[3]
On 9 November 1918 H-15 left New York City and sailed for Bermuda. However while en route, the First World War ended and upon arriving at Bermuda, H-15 remained there. In mid-December 1918 her crew left in ships for return to the United Kingdom.[3]
On 7 February 1919, the Royal Navy transferred the H-15 and her sister H-14 to the Royal Canadian Navy. The two boats, both in Bermuda still, had lain unused since December. However, even though Canada had received two submarines, they were expected to find crews to move the boats from Bermuda. The Royal Canadian Navy did not want them and tried to get the Admiralty to take them back.[3]
The Royal Canadian Navy, forced to take the submarines, was in turn obligated to discontinue the use of the CC-class submarines as they could not equip all four boats. H-15 arrived at Halifax in June 1919. Like the previous CC-class, a "C" was placed in front of the name of the ship to denote it belonged to Canada.[3]
Commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on 1 April 1921 at Halifax it took two months to make the CH-15 and her sister operational.[3][4] By July 1921 both boats were operational and exercised with the rest of the Canadian armed forces practicing harbour defence.[3] While in service the warship was used primarily for training anti-submarine warfare.[5] After arguing that remaining at Halifax during the winter months would be detrimental to the ships' health,[6] CH-15 and her sister, accompanied by HMS Wistaria, wintered at Bermuda. returning to Halifax in April 1922. Following the election of Mackenzie King-government, the Naval Service was required to cut expenditures.[7] Upon their return it was found that the government had refused to pay for the upkeep of the submarines and they were paid off on 22 June 1922.[3]
Following their decommissioning, a report was commissioned that examined the cost of maintaining and re-activating the submarines. It was found too costly and the plan was abandoned. In February 1925 the Admiralty enquired into the condition of the two warships and the response was negative, questioning the two boats ability to return to service. In 1926 the two subs were put for sale along with HMCS Aurora, the proceeds of the sale going to the Royal Navy rather than the Canadian one. CH-15 was officially sold on 9 March 1927 for scrap.[3][4]
References
Notes
References
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External links
- CH Type submarines
- Canada's Military submarines
- Canadian Navy Heritage Project: Ship Technical Information
- Canadian Navy Heritage Project: Photo Archive
Further reading
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