USS
S-5
S-5 departed Boston Navy Yard on 30
August 1920 to undergo full-power trials off the Delaware Capes. On 1 September, she commenced a dive for a
submerged test run. Water unexpectedly
entered the submarine through the main air induction system pouring into the
control room, engine room, torpedo room, and the motor room. Normal procedure was to leave the main air
induction valve open until the engines had a chance to come to a full stop,
this operation being so timed as to occur just prior to complete
submergence. In the case of the S-5,
however, the man responsible for operating this valve was momentarily
distracted. Noticing the mistake, he
grabbed the valve lever and jerked hard, causing the valve to jam open. After considerable difficulty, the system
valves in the other compartments were closed, but all efforts to secure the
torpedo room valve met with failure. The
abandoned torpedo room flooded, making the boat bow heavy. An additional 80 tons of water in the motor
room bilges caused her to settle on the bottom.
It was now impossible to eject water from the torpedo room. An attempt was then made to pump out the
motor room, but a gasket blew out and there were no means for repair. Lying 194 feet on the bottom, the crew had
little hope of being found, much less being rescued. Their situation now called for some original
thinking. They reasoned that sufficient
buoyancy in the after section could tilt the sub on her nose and extend the
stern above the surface. The tilt would
cause the water in the motor room to drain forward and increase buoyancy
further. However, there was great risk
involved because this would allow salt water into the battery room, which would
generate deadly chlorine gas. They hoped
to have enough time, after the water had entered, to close the watertight door
before the gas could reach a dangerous level.
After making preparations, air was applied to the after ballast and fuel
tanks, blowing them dry. The stern began
to rise and then shot to the surface.
Men, floor plates, bilge water, and other loose objects fell through the
length of the submarine. One man nearly
drowned in the battery room, but was fished out and the compartment door was
sealed against the gas. By tapping on
the hull, it was determined that the stern extended about 17 feet above the
water. With inadequate tools, they took
turns trying to cut a hole in the thick hull.
After 36 hours, they had only succeeded in making a hole three inches in
diameter. The steamship ALANTHUS,
however, detected the plight of the submarine.
With assistance from the steamship GENERAL GOETHALS, a much larger hole
was cut, and the entire crew was rescued.
Later, the battleship