J-4 SUBMARINE

Location

Ships Graveyard, Outside Port Phillip Heads Area, Bass Strait

VHR Number

S355

Date lost

1927

Year of construction

1916

Statement of Significance

Physical Description

Construction Material Steel

Rig Submarine

Hull Details Steel, Double Hull Type, Triple Screw, Submarine. 4 bow torpedos, 2 beam torpedos. 1 x 3 foot DP/HA Gun, 1 x 2 pdr.

Propulsion Motor

Engine Builder Steel diesel, electric. reversing 4 cycle Diesel Engines. 1200 H.P at 380 RPM. 14.5 x 15.0. Submerged: 2 x Mather and Platt, 1400 H.P. Electric Motors powered by 4 banks of 58 cell batteries.

Length / Breadth / Depth 274.9 / 23.6 / 14.0

History

Built Date 1916

Built Port / Country Pembrooke / England

Details
In 1914/15 the Britsh Admiralty received information that the German Navy were developing a submarine capable of surface speeds in excess of 20 knots. In order to combat this threat The Admiralty designed and constructed the J Class Submarine (nick named REAPERS). The original plans called for 8 J Class Submarines however only 7 were built. The J Class Submarines were attached to The 11th Submarine Flotilla and all ships saw heavy action in WW1. Only one ship, the J 6 was lost, and that by 'friendly fire'. After the war the 6 remaining J Class Submarines were given to Australia along with 6 destroyers. The ships arrived in 1919 after a lengthy voyage from England during which anumber of the Submarines had to be towed by surface craft. The ships were given an extensive refit in Sydney and were attached to Osmond House in Geelong. The ships did not live up to expectations, were expensive to keep and were out dated. By May 1927 only the J-7 was still afloat. The J-4 after being salvaged from where it had sunk off Williamstown was sold to The Melbourne Salvage Company and later scuttled outside the Heads. Sites position (G.P.S.) reported by F.Derksen. May 1992. Hosty The bow ring of the 90 FOOT BROKEN SUBMARINE was checked on the evening of the 29 August 1993 by Jim Anderson and Terry Arnott with the aim of confirming its identification. Measurements taken on-site and photographic evidence confirms the submarines identity as being the J4. The J-4 was located by members of The Melbourne Bottom Scratchers on 16 May 1982.

Voyage Details

Date Lost 1927

Owner 1916: British Admiralty 1919: Royal Australian Navy 1923: Melbourne Salvage Company. 1927: Northern Timber Mills.

Cause of Loss
Scuttled

Further Details

Number of Passengers 0

Number of Crew Members 0

Physical Description
Construction Material	Steel
Rig	Submarine
Hull Details	Steel, Double Hull Type, Triple Screw, Submarine. 4 bow torpedos, 2 beam torpedos. 1 x 3 foot DP/HA Gun, 1 x 2 pdr.
Propulsion	Motor
Engine Builder	Steel diesel, electric. reversing 4 cycle Diesel Engines. 1200 H.P at 380 RPM. 14.5 x 15.0. Submerged: 2 x Mather and Platt, 1400 H.P. Electric Motors powered by 4 banks of 58 cell batteries.
Length / Breadth / Depth	274.9 / 23.6 / 14.0

Built Date	1916
Built Port / Country	Pembrooke / England
Details	In 1914/15 the Britsh Admiralty received information that the German Navy were developing a submarine capable of surface speeds in excess of 20 knots. In order to combat this threat The Admiralty designed and constructed the J Class Submarine (nick named REAPERS). The original plans called for 8 J Class Submarines however only 7 were built. The J Class Submarines were attached to The 11th Submarine Flotilla and all ships saw heavy action in WW1. Only one ship, the J 6 was lost, and that by 'friendly fire'. After the war the 6 remaining J Class Submarines were given to Australia along with 6 destroyers. The ships arrived in 1919 after a lengthy voyage from England during which anumber of the Submarines had to be towed by surface craft. The ships were given an extensive refit in Sydney and were attached to Osmond House in Geelong. The ships did not live up to expectations, were expensive to keep and were out dated. By May 1927 only the J-7 was still afloat. The J-4 after being salvaged from where it had sunk off Williamstown was sold to The Melbourne Salvage Company and later scuttled outside the Heads. Sites position (G.P.S.) reported by F.Derksen. May 1992. Hosty The bow ring of the 90 FOOT BROKEN SUBMARINE was checked on the evening of the 29 August 1993 by Jim Anderson and Terry Arnott with the aim of confirming its identification. Measurements taken on-site and photographic evidence confirms the submarines identity as being the J4. The J-4 was located by members of The Melbourne Bottom Scratchers on 16 May 1982.


Date Lost	1927
Owner	1916: British Admiralty 1919: Royal Australian Navy 1923: Melbourne Salvage Company. 1927: Northern Timber Mills.
Cause of Loss	Scuttled

Number of Passengers	0
Number of Crew Members	0

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