J5 Submarine

Type:                      Boat Dive - Wreck

Depth:                    30-36 metres

Rating:                    Deep

Snorkel:                  No

The J5 Submarine is popularly known as the the Yellow Submarine due to its coverage in part by yellow zoanthids. She sits upright on a sandy bottom. Penetration is possible at several points, where, apparently, plates were removed prior to scuttling. She lies facing North-South (bow South) in 36 metres of water, her conning tower rising to 30 metres.

HMS J5 commissioned in the Royal Navy on 6 May 1916 under the command of Commander CP Talbot RN and was allocated to the 11th Submarine Flotilla based at Blyth, Northumberland.

J5 sailed from Devonport on 5 June 1916 having carried out initial trials locally, had two steering breakdowns en route to Portsmouth, spent two weeks in Portsmouth for more trials and finally arrived in Blyth on 24 June. There were more days of workup and modification before sailing for a patrol off the Dogger Bank on 10 July. During this patrol she had great trouble with depth keeping and on one occasion hit the bottom at 140 feet. On return she was docked at Wallsend-on-Tyne. Leaving dock on 31 July she was in collision with HMS Vixen and had to be redocked at Blyth for repairs to the stem and bow shutters to No. 1 tube.

 On 26 February 1924 J5 was sold to the Melbourne Salvage Syndicate. The hull was sunk three miles off Barwon Heads on 4 June 1926.

Location: Latitude: 38° 18.649′ S  Longitude: 144° 34.118′ E