A 8 (I 18)
| Built By: | Vickers (Barrow) |
| Build Group: | A2 |
| Fate: | 8 May 1905 - Sank in Plymouth Sound after internal explosion but was raised and repaired. Eventually stricken in July 1916 and sold for breaking on 18th October 1920 to Phillips of Dartmouth. |
A 8 (I 18)
Commanders
| 1905: | Lieutenant | Algernon Henry Chester Candy | |
| 1913: | Lieutenant | Eric Erskine Campbell Tufnell | |
| 1915: | Lieutenant | R N Stopford |
1914-15: 1st Flotilla, Devonport, HMS Onyx
1918: Training duty
On 8th May of 1905 whilst operating off the Plymouth breakwater, she was following the depot ship at a speed of 10 knots when she suddenly disappeared. There were only four of the crew saved.
The four survivors were the CO, a Sub Lt, Petty Officer Waller (The submarine services first coxswain) and a Leading Stoker. It was at first thought that an explosion was responsible for the loss of A8 but further evidence came out at an inquiry.
The inquiry came to the conclusion that the boat developed a bow down angle whilst travelling at 10 knots. This was possibly caused by an intake of water into the foremost petrol tank, where a rivet was discovered to be missing.
Roll of Honour |
15
|
| Ayloff, William George 194448 | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Petty Officer 1st Class | Aged: 24 | ||
| Beedham, George 269605 | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class | Aged: 25 | ||
| Birch, Stephen 201849 | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 24 | ||
| Bruckland, William George 270254 | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class | Aged: 29 | ||
| Crew, Arthur Burns 151548 | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Petty Officer 1st Class | Aged: 32 | ||
| Cusick, Thomas 194176 | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Leading Seaman | Aged: 25 | ||
| Fletcher, Edward Travers | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Sub Lieutenant | Aged: 21 | ||
| Greene, Edmond 282298 | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Stoker | Aged: 29 | ||
| Kerswell, John 181481 | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Leading Seaman | Aged: 27 | ||
| McKnight, John 207398 | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 22 | ||
| Reeve, Thomas Samuel 137633 | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Chief Stoker | Aged: 37 | ||
| Rylands, Arthur 180612 | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 26 | ||
| Simpson, James William 180703 | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Leading Seaman | Aged: 27 | ||
| Thomas, Joseph 179358 | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Leading Seaman | Aged: 26 | ||
| Vickers, Frederick 269707 | |||
| Died: 8th May, 1905. | |||
| Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class | Aged: 25 | ||
Events
| 01-09-1903 | Laid Down |
| 23-01-1905 | Launched |
| 08-05-1905 | At 10:30 in the morning an explosion ripped through HMS A8 whilst she was on exercise in Plymouth Sound. A nearby Trawler, the Chanticleer witnessed the explosion and lowered her boats as the submarine began to founder to offer assistance. Shortly after the submarine sank further explosions were witnessed and wreckage drifted to the surface. HMS A8 was salvaged on the 12th and inspections indicated that the explosions were more than likely caused by a chemical reaction within the battery. |
| 08-05-1905 | Completed |
| 18-10-1920 | Sold for breaking to Phillips of Dartmouth. |
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