From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

(SS - 9: dp. 238; l. 105'4"; b. 13'11"; dr. 10'; s. 10 k.; cpl. 15; a. 2 18' tt.; cl. C)

C-1 (Submarine No. 9) was launched 4 October 1906 as Octopus by Fore River Shipbuilding Co., Quincy, Mass., under a subcontract from Electric Boat Company; sponsored by Miss F. Webster; and commissioned 30 June 1908, Lieutenant C. E. Courtney in command. She was renamed C-1 on 17 November 1911.

Assigned to the 2nd Submarine Flotilla, Octopus operated out of Newport, R.I., and New York until 9 October 1908. Tests and experiments with both submarine design and the tactical use of her type continued from Norfolk, Va., and Newport until she was placed in reserve at Charleston, S.C., 14 February 1910.

Recommissioned 15 April 1910, the submarine conducted experiments and served as training vessel at Newport until 10 May 1913. C-1 was reassigned to 1st Submarine Group, Torpedo Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet, and from 29 May to 7 December 1913, operated out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She served in Panamanian waters in training, and later, on patrol during World War I, until 4 August 1919 when she was decommissioned at Coco Solo, C.Z. Here she was sold 13 April 1920.