HMS J5

HMS J5 (later HMAS J5) was a First World War J class submarine built for the Royal Navy by HM Dockyard at Devonport in Plymouth.

The J's were three-screw diesel electric submarines of some 1,800 tons armed with six torpedo tubes, two of these in the beam position, and a 4-inch gun. They were built to have a fast surfaced speed; in practice nearly 20 knots.

J5 was launched on 9 September 1915 and commissioned on 6 May 1916. She and the other J's were members of the 11th Submarine Flotilla. She served in the North Sea chiefly in operations against German destroyers and U-boats, most of encounters were with the latter. Although engaging several times with enemies the closest she got to sinking the enemy was striking U-86 with a torpedo which did not explode.

After the war, she was transferred along with other members of her class to Australia on 25 March 1919. There she operated out of Geelong until paid off on 12 July 1922 as a cost-saving exercise. She was sold on 26 February 1924 and after stripping she, J1, and J2 were scuttled in the ship graveyard off Port Phillip Heads on 4 June 1926.

The wreck of the J5 lies in 39 m of water at -38.15°N, 144.86667°W and can be accessed by experienced divers.