HMS H5 facts for kids
A view from the bridge of HMS H5.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS H5 |
| Builder | Canadian Vickers, Montreal |
| Launched | June 1915 |
| Fate | Sunk, 2 March 1918 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | H-class submarine |
| Displacement |
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| Length | 150 ft 3 in (45.80 m) |
| Beam | 15 ft 4 in (4.67 m) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Complement | 22 |
| Armament |
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HMS H5, was a British H-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She sank the U-boat SM U-51 in July 1916, but was herself sunk after being rammed by the British merchantman Rutherglen when mistaken for a German U-boat on 2 March 1918. All on board perished; they are commemorated on Panel 29 at Royal Navy Submarine Museum. Also on board as an observer was US Navy Lieutenant Earle Wayne Freed Childs from the American submarine AL-2. He became the first US submariner to lose his life in the First World War. The wreck's site is designated as a controlled site under the Protection of Military Remains Act. A plaque commemorating the 26 who died was dedicated on Armed Forces Day 2010 in Holyhead.
Design
Like all pre-H11 British H-class submarines, H5 had a displacement of 364 tonnes (401 short tons) at the surface and 434 tonnes (478 short tons) while submerged. It had a total length of 171 feet (52 m), a beam length of 15 feet 4 inches (4.67 m), and a draught length of 12 feet (3.7 m). It contained a diesel engines providing a total power of 480 horsepower (360 kW) and two electric motors each providing 320 horsepower (240 kW) power. The use of its electric motors made the submarine travel at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). It would normally carry 16.4 tonnes (18.1 short tons) of fuel and had a maximum capacity of 18 tonnes (20 short tons).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) and a submerged speed of 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). British H-class submarines had ranges of 1,600 nautical miles (3,000 km; 1,800 mi). H5 was fitted with a 6 pounds (2.7 kg) Hotchkiss quick-firing gun (6-pounder) and four 18 inches (460 mm) torpedo tubes. Its torpedo tubes were fitted to the bows and the submarine carried eight 18 inches (460 mm) torpedoes. She is a Holland 602 type submarine but was designed to meet Royal Navy specifications. Her complement was twenty-two crew members.
Service record
On 14 July 1916 H5 spotted the SM U-51 leaving the Ems and torpedoed her. U-51 sank with the loss of 34 of her crew; four men survived.
