Submarine torpedo boat USS A-5 was originally laid down as USS Pike (Submarine Torpedo Boat Number 6) on 10 December 1900 at San Francisco, California, by the Union Iron Works, a subcontractor for the John P. Holland Torpedo Boat Company of New York. The submarine was christened by Mrs. Frank Baker Zahm, the wife of the naval constructor at the Union Iron Works, and launched on 14 January 1903; and commissioned at the Mare Island Navy Yard with Lieutenant Arthur MacArthur, Junior (the elder brother of future General of the Army Douglas MacArthur) in command.

When commissioned, the Plunger Class submarine displaced 107 tons; was 63'10" in length; had a beam of 11'11"; drew 10'7" of water when on the surface in diving trim; could make 8 knots on the surface and 7 knots submerged; was manned by 7 officers and men; and was armed with one 18-inch torpedo tube.

USS 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 USS Pike's crew took part in the relief efforts in the wake of the disaster.

Decommissioned on 28 November 1906, USS 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 the end of this period, USS Pike was renamed USS A-5 (Submarine Torpedo Boat Number 6) on 17 November 1911.

USS 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, USS A-5 was loaded on board collier USS Hector on 15 February 1915. Her sistership, USS A-3 (Submarine Torpedo Boat Number 4), was loaded the next day. USS A-5 made the voyage to the Philippine Islands as deck cargo. She arrived at Olongapo on 26 March. Launched on 13 April, she was recommissioned on 17 April, and assigned to the Asiatic Fleet.

Shortly after the United States entered World War I, USS A-5 sank while moored at the Cavite Navy Yard, on 15 April 1917. Her sinking was attributed to a slow leak in a main ballast tank. She was raised on 19 April and, following reconditioning, returned to 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.

USS 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.