From: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS, Vol. IA, pp. 3.

(Submarine Torpedo Boat No. 6: dp. 107; 1. 63'10"; b. 11'11"; dr. 10'7" s. 8 k. (surf.), 7 k. (subm.); cpl. 7; a. 1 18" tt.; cl. Plunger)

The submarine torpedo boat A-6 was originally laid down as Pike (Submarine Torpedo Boat No. 6) on 10 December 1900 at San Francisco, Calif., by Union Iron Works, a subcontractor for the John P. Holland Torpedo Boat Co., of New York, launched on 14 January 1903; sponsored by Mrs. Frank Baker Zahm, the wife of the naval constructor at Union Iron Works; and commissioned at the Mare Island Navy Yard, Lt. Arthur MacArthur, Jr. (the elder brother of future General of the Army Douglas MacArthur) in command.

Pike operated out of the Mare Island Navy Yard for over three years, operating principally in experimental and training roles. Following the earthquake and subsequent fire at San Francisco on 18 April 1906, members of Pike's crew took part i n the relief efforts in the wake of the disaster.

Decommissioned on 28 November 1906, Pike remained inactive until 8 June 1908, when she was recommissioned for local operations with the Pacific Torpedo Flotilla, off the Pacific coast. She remained attached to this unit into June of 1912. Toward th e end of this period, Pike was renamed A-5 (Submarine Torpedo Boat No. 6) on 17 November 1911.

A-5 arrived at the Puget Sound Navy Yard on 26 June 1912 and, two days later, was placed in reserve. Following two and a half years of inactivity there, A-5 was loaded on board the collier Hector on 15 February 1915 (her sistership A-3, Submarine Torpedo Boat No. 4, was loaded the next day). A-5 made the voyage to the Philippines as deck cargo. She arrived at Olongapo on 26 March. Launched on 13 April, she was recommissioned on 17 April, and assigned to the Asiati c Fleet.

Shortly after the United States entered World War I, A-5 sank while moored at the Cavite Navy Yard, on 15 April 1917, her sinking attributed to a slow leak in a main ballast tank. She was raised on 19 April and, following reconditioning, returned t o active service. Like her sisterships, she patrolled the waters off the entrance to Manila Bay during the course of the war with the Central Powers.

A-5, given the alphanumeric hull number SS-6 on 17 July 1920, was decommissioned on 25 July 1921. Earmarked as a target vessel the submarine torpedo boat was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 16 January 1922.