s-boats

The S-Boats
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

S boat seen from the deck of a ship in WW II

S-boat seen from the deck of a ship during WW II

USS S-1 SS 105. First US Submarine to carry an airplane.

USS S-1 SS 105 flooded down for retrieving the aircraft.

USS S-1 SS 105.

Cdr. Vincent John Moore was XO of the USS S-1 SS 105 in 1921.
He later became the CO of the USS R-9.
He was a graduate of Annapolis, Class of 1917.
He served on board USS Pennsylvania when it went to
Europe with President Wilson to sign treaty ending WWI.
Cdr Moore retired from the Navy in 1924 due to health reasons.
He was recalled to active duty in 1942 as an instructor.
He passed away on Dec. 9, 1973.
Photo provided by his great grandneice Patricia M. Lynn

USS S-1 SS 105 with the crew on deck.

USS S-1 SS 105 with the crew on deck. Blur is due to slow film and speed of boat. US Navy Photo

USS S-1 submerging with cameraman on bridge

USS S-1 submerging with a movie cameraman on bridge filming the dive. Copyright Ric Hedman

USS S-1 surfacing with cameraman on bridge

USS S-1 surfacing with a movie cameraman on bridge filming the action. Copyright Ric Hedman

USS S-1 firing a torpedo. You can see the curving track. Copyright Ric Hedman

Torpedo practice head reaching the end of its run

The torpedo has reached the end of its run. The practice head that was filled with water
instead of explosive is blowing out the water with compressed air. Copyright Ric Hedman

The torpedo has reached the end of its run. Copyright Ric Hedman

The torpedo has reached the end of its run and is being retrieved by a small boat. Copyright Ric Hedman

The USS S-1 surfacing after a dive.
Photo taken on the Thames River, New London, Ct, July 22, 1926. Copyright Ric Hedman

The USS S-1 surfacing after a dive.
Photo taken on the Thames River, New London, Ct, July 22, 1926.
The #3 main ballast tank is still flooded in this photo. Copyright Ric Hedman

A number of early unidentified "S" boats under construction at Portsmouth Shipyard.
S-10 thru S-13 were built with 1 stern tube at Portsmouth Shipyard.
These could be those boats.

3 unidentified "S" boats under construction, Portsmouth Shipyard

The USS S-2 in dry dock in Tsingtau, China in the 1920's.
The photo was taken by Lcdr Louis Schebia who made an inspection of our
Far East Fleet at that time. The photo clearly shows the old deck line prior to the
addition of the bow buoyancy tank by Simon Lake giving her the very
distinctive, (and very ugly) profile she sported the rest of her career.
Photo contributed by Rick Larson

USS S-2 SS 106.
I received this e-mail about this photo:
My comments in red.

July 7, 2001
Ric,

I like a challenge, so I took you up on your offer concerning the photo of the S-2 with her bow out of the water on your "Looking Glass" page.

I did a little research and discovered that the bulbous tank at S-2's bow was not original equipment. Apparently, Simon Lake was concerned about her seakeeping qualities and decided that a bow buoyancy tank would solve the problem. The Bureau refused to let him modify the boat during construction so that the prototypes S-1, S-2, and S-3 could be evenly compared during trials.
( all built by different shipyards ) After the trials completed, the Bureau relented and allowed him to make the modification in (according to Norman Friedman) "about" 1921. ( Norman Friedman's outstanding work U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History )

One other clue jumped out at me when looking at the photo. On the other side of the pier, just to the left of the enclosure, is the conning tower of the USS(?) U-111, a German U-boat taken over by the USN for study. After an extensive series of trials, it was decommissioned (again according to Friedman) in April, 1920. ( S-2 was commissioned May 25, 1920 )

I also could not find any reference (yet) of the S-2 ever having accidentally sunk alongside.

Given these facts, I am speculating that this photo was taken shortly after the completion of the BBT mod in 1921 and this was an alongside static dive to test the tank's operation and integrity. This also jibes with the boat's large up-angle in a shallow water dive.

Strangely, the only fact that doesn't fit is the U-111's presence in the photo. If she was decommed in April, 1920, why is she still around in 1921? Either she wasn't immediately disposed of (I haven't been able to find a date for that yet), or one of Friedman's dates are wrong.
( U-111 was sunk as a target in the Atlantic in July of 1921 )
What do you think?

See ya

Dave Johnston

My thanks to Dave Johnston for this information and pointing out the U-111 in the
background of this photo. I had missed that completely.

USS S-2 in dry dock.

USS S-2 in dry dock

USS O-1 and the USS S-3 during construction
You can see the O-1 is much farther along in the building process.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.

USS S-3 SS 107 being launched from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard 12/21/1918

USS S-3 on a trial trip.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.

USS S-3 on a trial trip.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.

USS S-3 running submerged trials
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.

USS S-3 SS 107

USS S-3 in Dry Dock

USS S-3 in Dry Dock with the USS San Francisco circa 1934

USS S-3 in Dry Dock a 4 stack cruiser is in the background

USS S-3 in Dry Dock

USS S-3 crew circa 1920
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

USS S-3 crew circa 1920
Stewardsmates
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

USS S-3 crew circa 1920
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

USS S-3 officers circa 1920
Captain and XO to the left and probably Engineer and Navigator or Weapons to the right.
(Order of officers unknown)
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

USS S-3 Chief Petty Officers circa 1920
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

USS S-4 coming to the surface.

USS S-4 SS 109

USS S-4
The story of the ill-fated S-4 by J. L. Christley EMCS(SS) USN (ret)

MP3 File of the song about the sinking of the S-4.
It was recorded on 12/29/27 - five days after the rescue efforts were abandoned.
"The Sinking Of The Submarine S-4"
Thanks to Bill Whalen for this copy.

USS S-4 in the Philippines circa 1922

USS S-4 SS 109 circa 1921, Portsmouth, NH<br>Crew doing laundry

USS S-4 SS 109 circa 1921, Portsmouth, NH
Crew doing laundry

USS S-5 SS 110

USS S-5 underway
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.

USS S-6 SS 111 at Mare Island Shipyard, California
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

S-6 (left) with captured German U-111 in center of the photo. The photo is indistinct
but it apears that the US sub on the far laft of the photo is the S-3, one of the two subs the
U-111 toured the east coast with on a bond drive to raise money for off setting war debts.
The retractable radio antennae's can be seen on the starboard side of the U-111.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.

USS S-7 SS 112.
The stern of a 4 turret battleship in the background to the right.

USS S-7 SS 112

USS S-7 SS 112 surfacing after a static dockside dive.
Another "S" boat is behind and an Armored Cruiser along side.

Officers & Crew of the USS S-7. Date of photo not known.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.

USS S-8 and an unidentified S-boat at pier side.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.

USS S-8 SS 113 being examined by Navy officers for clues on how to
salvage the USS S-4 that has sunk with all hands.
The USS S-8 was at one point the Flagship for Submarine Division Twelve.

USS S-8 in dry dock, note stern plane arrangement.
It seems to be one large plate with a single ram for moving it.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.

USS S-9 SS 114
In Dry Dock circa 1925, possibly Mare Island Shipyard since the boats
near her in the dry dock were all reported to be at Mare Island at that time too.

Launching of the USS S-10 Dec 9, 1920
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.

USS S-10 SS 115

USS S-10 SS 115 Portsmouth NH. January 24, 1925
US Navy Photo

USS S-10 SS bow close up. January 24, 1925
US Navy Photo

USS S-10 close up of ice and snow. January 24, 1925
Just above the limber holes on the right side of the photo are the words; "Bow Planes Keep Clear"
US Navy Photo

USS S-10 close up of ice and snow on the deck gun and conning tower fairwater.
January 24, 1925
US Navy Photo

USS S-10 close up of ice and snow on the gun and bridge. January 24, 1925
US Navy Photo

USS S-10 most likey at anchor on very still day.
The crew is relaxing around the deck gun and laundry is drying from the radio antenna aft.
circa 1925

USS S-10 crew is relaxing around the deck gun.
circa 1925

USS S-10 most likey at anchor and laundry is drying from the radio antenna aft.
circa 1925.

USS S-10 and USS S-20 warping out from the seawall.
USS O-3, USS O-4 & USS O-1 are at the finger piers in background.
USS O-3 conning tower is just above the conning tower of S-10.
New London Sub Base circa 1928, 29.

USS S-12 was part of submarine Squadron 6 in 1937

USS S-12 just after launching at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.

USS S-12 leaving port.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.

USS S-13 SS 118

USS S-15 SS 120
In Dry Dock circa 1925, possibly Mare Island Shipyard since the boats
near her in the dry dock were all reported to be at Mare Island at that time too.

USS S-16 SS 121 Ship is "dressed" with all her "bunting".
Maybe commissioning day or some other major event or holiday.

USS S-16 SS 121 in the process of tying up to a pier at
Cebu on Cebu Island, P.I. January 5, 1923, note 4th man
from left. he appears to be tossing a heaving line to the pier.
Picture submitted by John Clear EMC (SS) USN Ret.

USS S-16 SS 121, moored inboard of a nest of O-boats.
L to R: S-16, O-8, O-10, O-7, O-9 and O-6.
Boats are moored at Coco Solo, Panama, circa 1925. S-16 Stewrdsmate sitting on foredeck.
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

Officers Stewardsmate, USS S-16 SS 121, relaxing on the foredeck.
Boat is moored at Coco Solo, Panama, circa 1925.
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

USS S-18 moored to dock circa 1922.
Photo NOT in public domain

USS S-18 conning tower with squadron 4 insignia.
Photo NOT in public domain

USS S-18 ships davit is being used to stretch the radio aerial.
The frame for a weather cover over the torpedoroom hatch is in place.
Photo NOT in public domain

USS S-18 moored to the barge Isaac L. Rice

TheUSS S-18 SS 123 moored to the self propelled
barge Isaac L. Rice at Groton on June 2, 1922.
US Navy Photo

The USS S-18 SS 123 moored to the self propelled
barge Isaac L. Rice at Groton on June 2, 1922.
US Navy Photo

USS S-19 ran aground off Chatham, Mass Jan 13, 1925
on the southern coast of Cape Cod, after foggy weather,
strong winds and unusually heavy seas had pushed her far from her course.
The Coast Guard Cutters TAMPA (Coast Guard Cutter No. 48)
and ACUSHNET came her assistance. Which one is in the photo isn't noted.
US Navy Photo

USS S-20 SS 125 in the Canal Zone. The S-20 was used as a test
platform for the "new" fleet submarine bow design.

USS S-20 SS 125

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

Read / Sign our Deck Log

The author is a Member of The HTML Writers Guild