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Home → Boats → Submarines → A Class → A5

A 5

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: A2
Fate: A5 was involved in an explosion at Queenstown, Ireland, on 16th February 1905 whilst berthed alongside the tender HMS Hazard, where five crew members were killed.

The explosion was caused by a leak in the petrol pump, when the engine was started up to ventilate the submarine it caused the fumes to explode.

Broken up in 1920 at Portsmouth Dockyard.
The ill fated A5
The ill fated A5
A 5
A 5

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Commanders
1915: Lieutenant   A P Williams-Freeman DSO

1914-15: 2nd Flotilla, Portsmouth
1918: Training duty

Related Pages
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HM Submarine A5 (Forgotten Submariners)

A5's refueling was completed at 0805. Approximately two hours later an explosion occurred inside A5 toward the stern, a second explosion some thirty minutes later followed this. The second explosion was located in the conning tower area. So great was the force of the explosions that members of the crew were actually blown out of the boat through the main hatch into the water. Subsequently two crew members were picked up by a tug.

Roll of Honour
6
 
Manley, Arthur  146205
Petty Officer 1st Class Aged: 32
Died of injuries at Haulbowline Hospital
Pryor, William John  157383
Petty Officer 1st Class Aged: 31
Died of injuries at Haulbowline Hospital
 
Davis, Henry  290058
Died: 16th Feb, 1905.
Stoker Aged: 24
Goldthorpe, Ernest  280244
Died: 16th Feb, 1905.
Leading Stoker Aged: 28
Sinden, Charles Edward  268278
Died: 16th Feb, 1905.
Chief Engine Room Artificer Aged: 33
Skinner, Frederick Charles 
Died: 16th Feb, 1905.
Lieutenant Aged: 21
Promoted to Lieutenant 15/02/1905

Events

 01-09-1903   Laid Down
 03-03-1904   Launched
 11-02-1905   Completed
 16-02-1905   A5 experienced an internal petrol explosion shortly after refuelling from the depot ship HMS Hazard berthed in Queenstown, County Cork. The cause of the explosion was petrol fumes being ignited by a spark from the Main Motor Brushes.

Six of the crew were immediately killed by the explosion or died shortly afterward.
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A 4 A 6 (I 16)