The submarine was ordered on 18 December 1911 and 15 June 1912 the O 5 was laid down in Flushing at the shipyard of De Schelde .

[2] On 20 or 21 August 1914 the ship is commissioned in the navy and stationed in Den Helder.

31 Jan 1914, the ship sinks after the simultaneous opening of an inner and outer torpedo tube doors.

In 1915 the ship sinks again after the simultaneous opening of an inner and outer torpedo tube door.

[2] In 1916 on 9 February one man dies and six others are wounded after a torpedo explosion while moored in Flushing.