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)
A8 alongside
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Commanders
| 1905: |
Lieutenant |
Algernon Henry Chester Candy
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| 1913: |
Lieutenant |
Eric Erskine Campbell Tufnell
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| 1915: |
Lieutenant |
R N Stopford
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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.
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Ayloff, William George
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| 194448 |
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 24
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Petty Officer 1st Class
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Beedham, George
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| 269605 |
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 25
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Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
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Birch, Stephen
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| 201849 |
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 24
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Able Seaman
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Bruckland, William George
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| 270254 |
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 29
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Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
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Crew, Arthur Burns
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| 151548 |
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 32
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Petty Officer 1st Class
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Cusick, Thomas
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| 194176 |
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 25
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Leading Seaman
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Fletcher, Edward Travers
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 21
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Sub Lieutenant
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Greene, Edmond
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| 282298 |
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 29
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Stoker
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Kerswell, John
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| 181481 |
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 27
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Leading Seaman
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McKnight, John
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| 207398 |
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 22
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Able Seaman
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Reeve, Thomas Samuel
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| 137633 |
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 37
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Chief Stoker
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Rylands, Arthur
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| 180612 |
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 26
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Able Seaman
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Simpson, James William
|
| 180703 |
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 27
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Leading Seaman
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Thomas, Joseph
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| 179358 |
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 26
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Leading Seaman
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Vickers, Frederick
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| 269707 |
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| Died: 8th May, 1905.
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| Aged: 25
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Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
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Events
| 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. |
| 18-10-1920 |
Sold for breaking to Phillips of Dartmouth. |
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