HMS D5 facts for kids
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HMS D5 was a special type of submarine called a D-class submarine. It was one of eight such submarines built for the Royal Navy (the British navy) in the early 1900s. These submarines were important for naval defense during their time.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | HMS D5 |
| Builder | Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness |
| Laid down | 23 February 1910 |
| Launched | 28 August 1911 |
| Commissioned | 19 February 1911 |
| Fate | Sunk, 3 November 1914 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | D-class submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 163 ft (50 m) (o/a) |
| Beam | 13.6 ft (4.1 m) (o/a) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Complement | 25 |
| Armament | 3 × 18 inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes (2 forward, one aft) |
About the D-Class Submarines
The D-class submarines were an improved version of earlier submarines. They were bigger and better than the C-class submarines that came before them. A big change was using diesel engines instead of the more dangerous petrol engines.
Size and Power
D3 and the submarines built after it, including D5, were a bit larger. They were about 164 feet 7 inches (50.2 m) long from end to end. Their width, or beam, was about 20 feet 5 inches (6.2 m). When floating, they sat about 11 feet 5 inches (3.5 m) deep in the water.
These submarines weighed about 495 long tons (503 t) when on the surface. When they were underwater, they weighed around 620 long tons (630 t). Each D-class submarine had a crew of 25 people. They were also the first British submarines to use "saddle tanks." These tanks helped them dive and surface.
How They Moved
When on the surface, these submarines used two powerful diesel engines. Each engine had 600-brake-horsepower (447 kW) and turned one propeller shaft. This allowed them to reach a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) (about 16 miles per hour).
When underwater, they switched to electric motors. Each motor had 275-horsepower (205 kW) and powered a propeller. Submerged, they could travel at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) (about 10 miles per hour). On the surface, the D-class submarines could travel about 2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) (about 2,877 miles) when going 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).
Weapons
The D-class submarines were armed with three 18-inch (45 cm) torpedo tubes. Two of these tubes were at the front (bow) of the submarine. One tube was at the back (stern). They also carried one extra torpedo for each tube, meaning they had a total of six torpedoes.
Building and Service
D5 was one of six D-class submarines ordered in 1909–1910. It was built by Vickers Armstrong at their shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness. The building of D5 started on 23 February 1910.
The submarine was officially launched into the water on 28 August 1911. It was finished and ready for service on 19 January 1912.
Early World War I Patrols
When World War I began, D5 was part of the 8th Submarine Flotilla. This group of submarines helped patrol the eastern part of the English Channel. They protected the British Expeditionary Force as it traveled to France in August 1914.
On 21 August 1914, D5 was on patrol near Heligoland. It spotted some German warships that were attacking British fishing boats. D5 fired two torpedoes at a German light cruiser named Rostock. However, both torpedoes missed their target.
The Sinking of D5
D5 was sunk on 3 November 1914. It was about 2 mi (3.2 km) south of South Cross Buoy, near Great Yarmouth in the North Sea. The submarine was responding to a German attack on Yarmouth by enemy cruisers.
Sadly, D5 hit a German mine that had been laid by the ship SMS Stralsund. Only five people survived the sinking, including the submarine's commander, Lieutenant Commander Godfrey Herbert.
Investigating the Wreck
In 2016, a group called Historic England asked Wessex Archaeology to study the wreck site. This was part of a project to check underwater sites around the English coast. They used special equipment to survey the area where D5 sank. Divers also explored the wreck.
They found that the wreck of D5 is important enough to be protected. However, it is mostly buried under the seabed. This means it is not currently at risk of being damaged. Because of this, they decided not to officially protect the wreck at that time.
