HMS A3

HMS A3 was a submarine in the Royal Navy that served during the early 20th century. It was one of the thirteen A-class submarines built for the Royal Navy. The A-class was the first class of British submarines to be constructed for the navy, marking a significant development in naval warfare.

Design and Construction

HMS A3 was built by Vickers, a British engineering conglomerate at their Barrow-in-Furness shipyard. The submarine was laid down in 1902 and launched on 12 July 1903. The A3 was designed to be a coastal defence submarine, with a displacement of 190 tons when surfaced and 207 tons when submerged. The submarine was powered by a petrol engine for surface running and an electric motor for underwater propulsion.

Service History

HMS A3 was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 13 July 1904. The submarine served in the Home Fleet, primarily in coastal defence roles. The A3 was involved in several training exercises and patrols during its service life. The submarine was decommissioned in 1919, following the end of World War I.

Accidents and Incidents

During its service life, HMS A3 was involved in a number of accidents. The most notable of these occurred on 2 February 1912, when the submarine was accidentally rammed by the depot ship HMS Hazard. The incident resulted in the loss of all hands on board the A3.

Legacy

The A3, along with the other A-class submarines, played a significant role in the development of the Royal Navy's submarine service. The lessons learned from the operation of these early submarines influenced the design and operation of subsequent classes of British submarines.

See Also

• List of submarines of the Royal Navy
• History of submarines