The A-Boats
USS Plunger (A-1) SS 2
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USS Plunger SS 2 later to be called A-1, was laid down May 21, 1901 at the Crescent Shipyard in Elizabeth, NJ. A contract was signed on August 22, 1900 for six boats instead of five and to be known as the ADDER class. The class was to include the Plunger SS 2 that preceded the ADDER SS 3 but to be known for the second boat of the class not the first.
Plunger was launched February 2, 1902. She was commissioned 18 months later on September 9, 1903. President Theodore Roosevelt became the first American President to descend in a Submarine in Plunger August 25, 1905 in Oyster Bay, Long Island, NY.
Plunger was decommissioned November 3, 1905 and then re-commissioned February 23, 1907 and served on active duty through WW I. She was decommissioned for the last time December 12, 1919. Struck from the Navy List on February 24, 1920 and sold as "deck cargo" along with the vessel Puritan 0n January 26, 1922.
USS Plunger (A-1) SS 2 & USS Shark (A-7) SS 8
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| The USS Adder (A-2) SS 3 is shown here (middle) with USS Moccasin (A-4) SS 5in background and in the foreground quite possibly the USS Plunger (A-1) SS 2 or Fulton, a prototype submarine built to test systems planned for use in new ADDER class, both had the free standing deck supports shown here. Adder was laid down October 3, 1900 and she was launched July 22, 1901. Adder was commissioned January 12, 1903. Decommissioned July 26, 1909 and subsequently recommissioned February 10, 1910 until decommissioning again on December 12, 1919. Adder was struck from the Navy List on January 16, 1922 and was sunk as a target in Manila bay near Corregidor January 26, 1922. |
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USS Adder, Submarine No 3, later renamed A-2 attached to submarine April 15, 1910 Howell, James B. - Ensign - age 24 - Born; Wyoming Callan, James - GM 1/C - age 27 - Born; District of Columbia Chrisholm, Archibald - Chief Electrician - age 22 - Born; Virginia Coleman, Newton H. - Electrician 2/C - age 25 - Born; Tennessee Chittenden, John W. - MM 2/C - age 24 - Born; New York Harragan, Stephen M. - Chief MM - age 29 - Born; Alabama Lindley, Frederick M. - MM 2/C - age 26 - Born; Indiana Landis, Thomas E. - Electrician 1/C - age 25 - Born; North Carolina Mathis, Edward P. - Electrician 1/C - age 26 - Born; Iowa Prather, Henry L. - Chief Gunners Mate - age 27 - Born; Missouri Rodane, John J. - GM 1/C - age 30 - Born; Pennsylvania Schultz, Charles H. - MM 1/C - age 24 - Born; Texas Thank you to Linda Talbott of the US GenWeb Census Project ® for providing this information. |
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| The USS Grampus
(A-3) SS 4 and USS Pike (A-5) SS 6 were
both built by Union Iron Works, San Francisco, CA. The Grampus and
Pike both were laid down on the same day, December 10, 1900. Grampus
was launched July 31, 1902 and Pike was launched January 14, 1903.
Both were commissioned May 28, 1903.
This picture might be one taken just after acceptance trials were completed
or could be commissioning day. |
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USS Grampus, Submarine No 4, later renamed A-3 attached to submarine April 15, 1910 Data base is incomplete due to lost records. Olding James P. - Ensign age 26 - Born; Nevada Johnstone Harold H. - Midshipman age 23 - Born; Montana Noren Charles E. - C. G. M. age 35 - Born; Sweden Alden Henry C. - C. Elec. age 30 - Born; Ohio Jordan Clyde W. - C. M. M. age 31 - Born; Indiana White Robert J. - G. M. 1C age 28 - Born; New York Wroughton Edwin R. - Q. M. 1C age 24 - Born; Nebraska Saar Frank A. - MM 1/C age 29 - Born; Michigan Moril Paul M. - MM 1/C age 25 - Born; Pennsylvania Crofeet William - Elec 1/C age 25 - Born; New York Cooke John B. - Elec 1/C age 25 - Born; Arkansas Kuhnen Alexander G. - MM 2/C age 25 - Born; Texas Thank you to Linda Talbott of the US GenWeb Census Project ® for providing this information. |
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The fifth man standing from the left with the "X" over his head, with further investigation of the photo, has been identified as Albert Dathe.
If it was taken after the acceptance trials some of the the seven men on deck could be Captain Frank Cable, William F. C. Nindemann, Harry H. Morrell, Henery S. Lathrop, Herman W. Noblett and Lawrence Spear and Gunner Owen Hill, U. S. Navy. All experienced submariners. These men performed the "shakedown" for both boats before the Naval Board and the trials were satisfactory to everyone. (The names do not correspond to the order the men are standing in.) That would also explain why there is no crew standing on the deck of the Pike. An interesting tidbit is that the first commanding officer of Grampus was Lt. Arthur MacArthur, jr, (the older brother of later to be General of the Army Douglas MacArthur of WW II fame), who also was, at the same time, the first Captain of the USS Pike (A-5) SS 6. |
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USS Moccasin, Submarine No 5, later renamed A-4 attached to submarine April 15, 1910 Data base is incomplete due to lost records. Mc Who*ler Ernest D. - Ensign - age 26 - Born: Mississippi Aber Edward - Machinists Mate 1st Class - age 27 - Born: New Jersey Dix Louis A. - Electrician 1st Class - age 23 - Born: Wisconsin Featherstone James A. - Ch. Electrician - age 28 - Born: Pennsylvania Leahey, Daniel - Chief GM - age 28 - Born: New York Littlefield, Roy C. - Chief MM - age 27 - Born: Massachusetts Mason, Frank L. - Electrician 2/C - age 23 - Born: Massachusetts Purtell, George E. - GM 1/C - age 26 - Born: Massachusetts Porter, James - GM 1/C age 29 - Born: - Virginia - Negro Riley, John - MM 2/C age 23 - Born: - West Virginia Woodward, Harry C. - Electrician 2/C - age 22 - Born: New York Wolfington, James H. - GM 1/C - age 26 - Born: Illinois Thank you to Linda Talbott of the US GenWeb Census Project ® for providing this information. |
| Moccasin was launched at the Crescent Shipyard in Elizabethport, N.J. on August 20, 1901 and commissioned on January 17, 1903 at the Holland yard at New Suffolk, N.Y. She operated out of the Naval Torpedo Station in Newport, RI. In July of 1909 she and her sister ship Adder were loaded as deck cargo on a ship and sent to Manila Bay, Philippines. She and other submarines of her class patrolled the entrance of Manila Bay during WW I as part of the First Submarine Division, Asiatic Torpedo Fleet. Moccasin was decommissioned on December 12, 1919 and struck from the Navy list January 16, 1922. She was sunk as a target January 26, 1922 near Corregidor. |
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USS Pike (A-5) SS 6 Stern View
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| Pike's
hull
was laid down on December 10, 1900 in San Francisco, California, by Union
Iron Works. Pike
was launched on 14 January 1903 and commissioned at the Mare Island Navy
Yard, Lt. Arthur MacArthur, Jr. (the older brother of General Douglas MacArthur)
was in command. Lt MacArthur had been the first Commanding Officer of the
USS
Grampus (A-3) SS 4 as well. Pike
operated
from Mare Island Navy Yard for three years in training roles. Members of
Pike's
crew took part in the relief efforts after the earthquake in San Francisco
on April 18, 1906. Pike
was decommissioned on November 28, 1906 and remained in inactive status
until June of 1908, when she was recommissioned for operations with the
Pacific Torpedo Flotilla, on the Pacific coast. Pike
was renamed A-5 (Submarine Torpedo Boat
No. 6) on 17 November 1911. Pike
(A-5) was
sent to the Puget Sound Navy Yard on June 26, 1912 and placed in reserve.
Two and a half years later, Pike (A-5)
was loaded on board the ship Hector and
on February 15, 1915 she and her sister ship Grampus
(A-3) sailed for the the Philippines
as deck cargo. She was recommissioned on April 17, 1912 and assigned to
the Asiatic Fleet.
Soon after the beginning of World War I, Pike sank at the dock at the Cavite Navy Yard, on April 15, 1917. The sinking was due to a leak in a main ballast tank. She was raised on April 19 and, reconditioned and sent back to active service patrolling the waters to Manila Bay. Pike was decommissioned on July 25, 1921. She was struck from the Navy list January 16, 1922 and later sank as a target off Corregidor. |
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U.S.S. Pike Plunger class submarine (SS-6), renamed A-5 in November, 1911. Data base is incomplete due to lost records. Donovan Kirkwood H. - Midshipman - age 23 Born Ohio Ryan Raymond - C.G.M. - age 25 Born Ireland Essig William H. - C. Elec. - age 25 Born New York Schroeder, Gust - GM 1/C - age 27 Born; Wisconsin Ertel, Edward G. - MM 1/C - age 29 Born; Germany Bucom, Roy E. - Elec. 1/C - age 24 Born; Missouri Myrick, Lester B. - Elec. 1/C - age 24 Born; Maine Ethrington, William J. - MM 1/C age 34 - Born; Michigan Kautcke, Wendel - MM 1/C age 33 - Born; Indiana Murphy, Robert W. - GM 2/C age 32 - Born; Connecticut Ward, Charles A. - MM 2/C age 34 - Born; New York Thank you to Linda Talbott of the US GenWeb Census Project ® for providing this information. |
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| Grampus
or Pike on the
Willapa River, at Raymond, Washington, circa 1912.
The A class subs were fitted with a bow fairing to improve sea keeping,
this can be seen by the dark shadow area forward of the conning tower.
Both submarines were placed in reserve in 1912 at Bremerton.
This photo was probably taken on the trip up the coast to Bremerton.
The stern of the USS
Chattanooga can be seen in front of the sub. Photo provided by Steve Hubbard of the Pacific County Historical Society , Washington State |
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| The USS
Porpoise hull was laid down on December
13, 1900 at the Crescent Shipyard in Elizabethport, N.J. She was launched
September 23, 1901. After launching she was towed to the Goldsmith &
Tuthuill Yard in New Suffolk for completion and trials. Porpoisewas
commissioned September 19, 1903. the USS
Porpoise (A-6) SS 7 was
decommissioned on April 21, 1908 and sent with her sister submarine, the
USS
Shark (A-7) SS 8 to the Cavite Navy Yard,
The Philippines. USS Porpoise
was
re-commissioned in November 1908 there.
USS Porpoise served the rest of her active duty operating out of Cavite. She patrolled the entrance to Manila bay during WW I. She was decommissioned for the last time December 12, 1919 and struck from the Navy List January 16, 1922. She was later sank as a target off Corregidor. |
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USS Porpoise, Submarine No 7, later renamed A-6 attached to submarine April 15, 1910 Data base is incomplete due to lost records. Vande Parr James P. - Ensign - age 24 - Born; New York Brown Harley H. - Machinists Mate 1st class - - age 27 - Born; Vermont Dergrinan William - Electrician 1st class - - age 31 - Born; Missouri Gratner John L. - Machinists Mate 2nd class - - age 23 - Born; Texas Hodson, Emil - Seaman - age 25 - Born; Montana Irwin, Max A. Electrician 2/C - age 23 - Born; Missouri Kimbel, Andrew J. - Electrician 2/C - age 25 - Born; Indiana Mc Farland, Otis H. - Chief GM - age 26 - Born; Indiana Stack, James F. - GM 2/C - age 23 - Born; Massachusetts Storey, Norman H. - Chief Electrician - age 34 - Born; Maryland Van Sickle, William E. - Chief MM - age 31 - Born; Missouri Thank you to Linda Talbott of the US GenWeb Census Project ® for providing this information. |
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| USS Shark (A-7)
SS 8 had
her hull laid down on January 11, 1901 at Lewis Nixon's Crescent Shipyard
in Elizabethport, N.J. Shark
was launched October 19, 1901. After completion and trials Shark
was commissioned on September 19, 1903. She operated out of Newport for
her first three years of active duty. In March 1907 USS
Shark (A-7) SS 8 was
assigned to the 1st Submarine Flotilla stationed at the Naval Academy in
Annapolis, Maryland.
Shark was decommissioned in 1908 and sent with her sister submarine, the USS Porpoise (A-6) SS 7 to the Cavite Navy Yard, The Philippines. USS Shark was re-commissioned in August 14, 1908. USS Shark served the rest of her active duty operating out of Cavite. She patrolled the entrance to Manila bay during WW I. On July 24, 1917, gasoline fumes ignited and caused an explosion and fire while on patrol in Manila Bay. The engine of the submarine been overhauled a short time before. The crew battled the fire until the Captain ordered the men topside and into boats. Six men later died from the effects of the fire. Ltjg. Arnold Marcus, the submarines commanding officer, died the next day, 25 July 1917, he refused treatment until all of his men had been treated. Shark was never returned to patrol duty, the effects of the fire being so great. She was decommissioned for the last time December 12, 1919 and struck from the Navy List January 16, 1922. She was later sank as a target off Corregidor. Currie J.M. EMC Gasoline Explosion Hixon I.P. MM2 Gasoline Explosion Hopewell Otho GM2 Gasoline Explosion Kunz J.A. MM1 Gasoline Explosion Lang Harold H. MM1 Gasoline Explosion Marcus Arnold Ltjg Gasoline Explosion |
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USS Shark, Submarine No 8, later renamed A-7 attached to submarine April 15, 1910 Jensen, Henry M. - Ensign - age 26 - Born; Minnesota Beaudford, Thomas S. - Electrician 2/C - age 30 - Born; Maryland Dowd, John J. - Chief Electrician age 29 - Born; New Jersey Draper, Harry - Chief MM - age 33 - Born; New York Greensmith, Joe - Chief GM - age 38 - Born; England Grimes, Chester J. - GM 2/C - age 25 - Born; Idaho Harris, William E. - Chief GM - age 29 - Born; Virginia - Mulatto Hershey, Orville S. - MM 2/C - age 25 - Born; Maryland Heslar, Fred O. - Electrician 1/C - age 22 - Born; Indiana Miller, Thomas M. - Electrician 2/C - age 23 - Born; Indiana Mc Gains, Joseph E. - GM 1/C - age 24 - Born; Arizona Sicer, Leonard - MM 1/C - age 24 - Born; Pennsylvania Streiff ,Robert J. - MM 2/C - age 22 - Born; Minnesota Thank you to Linda Talbott of the US GenWeb Census Project ® for providing this information. |
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| Length | 63' 9" |
| Beam | 11' 8" |
| Disp. Sur. | 107 tons |
| Disp. Sub. | 123 tons |
| Test Depth | 150' |
| Crew | 7 |
| Armament | 5 Torpedoes
1 18" Torp Tube |
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