HMS C16

HMS C16 was a C-class submarine built by Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness for the Royal Navy. She was laid down on 14 December 1906 and was commissioned on 5 June 1908.

First sinking
C16 was sunk in a collision with HMS C17 south of Cromer, Norfolk on 14 July 1909. There was only one survivor. She was salvaged and recommissioned.

Second sinking
C16 was again sunk after being rammed at periscope depth by destroyer HMS Melampus (1914) off Harwich on 16 April 1917. The boat bottomed out at 60 ft. The First Lieutenant — Lieutenant S. Anderson — was fired through a torpedo tube to try to escape, but unfortunately drowned. The captain — Lt. H. Boase — tried to flood the boat in an effort to escape through the fore hatch, but the fender jammed the hatch, so the crew was trapped. The escape attempts were recorded by the commanding officer, and were found corked in a bottle found lying near him when the hull was salvaged. All the crew of C16 died. C16 was salvaged and recommissioned.

C16 was finally sold on the 12 August 1922.