J-5 SUBMARINE

Location

Ships Graveyard, Outside Port Phillip Heads Area, Bass Strait

VHR Number

S385

Date lost

31/05/1926

Year of construction

1916

Statement of Significance

Physical Description

Construction Material Steel

Rig Submarine

Engine Builder Surface: 3 x 12 cylinder Vickers, solid injection, direct reversing, 4 cycle diesel engines. 1200 HP at 380 RPM. Submerged:2 x Mather and Platt, 1400 HP Electric Motors powered by 4 banks of 58 cell batteries.

Length / Breadth / Depth 274.0 Feet / 23.6 Feet / 14.0 Feet

History

Built Date 1916

Built Port / Country Devonport / England, UK

Former Details of Registration 1916-1919: owned by British Admiralty 1919-1923: owned by Royal Australian Navy 1923: owned by Melbourne Salvage Company

Details
German Navy was 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 Submarines were attached to The 11th Submarine Flotilla and all saw heavy action in WW1. Only one submarine was lost, J-6 and that by so called 'friendly fire'. After the war the 6 remaining J Class Submarines and 6 destroyers were given to Australia. The ships arrived in 1919 after a lengthy voyage from England in which many 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 The vessels did not live up to expectations, were expensive to operate and run and were out of date. By May 1927 only the J-7 was still afloat. The J-5 was sold to The Melbourne Salvage Company and sunk outside the Heads in June 1926. The second J Class submarine to be located was found by the Geelong Skindivers Club on 4 May 1974. The submarine was inspected on the afternoon of the 29 August by Terry Arnott and Jim Anderson. Measurements taken of the bow ring confirmed the vessels identification as the J-5.

Uses of Vessel

Primary Use Defence

Secondary Use Naval

Voyage Details

Date Lost 31/05/1926

Cause of Loss
Scuttled

Further Details

Number of Passengers 0

Number of Crew Members 0

Physical Description
Construction Material	Steel
Rig	Submarine
Engine Builder	Surface: 3 x 12 cylinder Vickers, solid injection, direct reversing, 4 cycle diesel engines. 1200 HP at 380 RPM. Submerged:2 x Mather and Platt, 1400 HP Electric Motors powered by 4 banks of 58 cell batteries.
Length / Breadth / Depth	274.0 Feet / 23.6 Feet / 14.0 Feet

Built Date	1916
Built Port / Country	Devonport / England, UK
Former Details of Registration	1916-1919: owned by British Admiralty 1919-1923: owned by Royal Australian Navy 1923: owned by Melbourne Salvage Company
Details	German Navy was 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 Submarines were attached to The 11th Submarine Flotilla and all saw heavy action in WW1. Only one submarine was lost, J-6 and that by so called 'friendly fire'. After the war the 6 remaining J Class Submarines and 6 destroyers were given to Australia. The ships arrived in 1919 after a lengthy voyage from England in which many 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 vessels did not live up to expectations, were expensive to operate and run and were out of date. By May 1927 only the J-7 was still afloat. The J-5 was sold to The Melbourne Salvage Company and sunk outside the Heads in June 1926. The second J Class submarine to be located was found by the Geelong Skindivers Club on 4 May 1974. The submarine was inspected on the afternoon of the 29 August by Terry Arnott and Jim Anderson. Measurements taken of the bow ring confirmed the vessels identification as the J-5.

Primary Use	Defence
Secondary Use	Naval

Date Lost	31/05/1926
Cause of Loss	Scuttled

Number of Passengers	0
Number of Crew Members	0

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