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fighting ships of the world

UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

SUBMARINES

"L" submarines (1916-1918)

L1 1915

No Name Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate
SS40 L1, 1917- AL1, 1918- L1 219 Fore River, Quincy 4.1914 20.1.1915 4.1916 sold 7.1922
SS41 L2, 1917- AL2, 1918- L2 220 Fore River, Quincy 3.1914 11.2.1915 9.1916 sold 11.1933
SS42 L3, 1917- AL3, 1918- L3 221 Fore River, Quincy 4.1914 15.3.1915 4.1916 sold 11.1933
SS43 L4, 1917- AL4, 1918- L4 222 Fore River, Quincy 3.1914 3.4.1915 5.1916 stricken 4.1922
SS44 L5   Lake, Bridgeport 5.1914 1.5.1916 2.1918 stricken 12.1922
SS45 L6 121 Craig SB, Long Beach 5.1914 31.8.1916 12.1917 stricken 11.1922
SS46 L7 122 Craig SB, Long Beach 6.1914 28.9.1916 12.1917 stricken 11.1922
SS48 L8   Portsmouth N Yd 2.1915 23.4.1917 8.1917 stricken 11.1922
SS49 L9, 1917- AL9, 1918- L9 227 Fore River, Quincy 11.1914 27.10.1915 8.1916 sold 11.1933
SS50 L10, 1917- AL10, 1918- L10 228 Fore River, Quincy 2.1915 16.3.1916 8.1916 stricken 5.1922
SS51 L11, 1917- AL11, 1918- L11 229 Fore River, Quincy 2.1915 16.5.1916 8.1916 stricken 12.1930

 

Displacement standard, t

 

Displacement normal, t

SS40 - 43, 49 - 51: 450 / 548

SS44 - 48: 456 / 524

Length, m

SS40 - 43, 49 - 51: 51.0

SS44 - 48: 50.3

Breadth, m

SS40 - 43, 49 - 51: 5.30

SS44 - 48: 4.50

Draught, m

SS40 - 43, 49 - 51: 4.10

SS44 - 48: 4.00

No of shafts

2

Machinery

SS40-43, 49-51: 2 NLSE diesels / 2 electric motors

SS44-46, 48: 2 Busch-Sulzer diesels / 2 electric motors

Power, h. p.

1200 / 800

Max speed, kts

14 / 10.5

Fuel, t

diesel oil 55

Endurance, nm(kts) 3300(11) / 150(5)

Armament

SS40 - 43, 49 - 51: 4 - 450 TT (bow, 8)

SS44 - 48: 1 x 1 - 76/23 Mk IX, 4 - 450 TT (bow, 8)

Complement

28

Diving depth operational, m

60

   

Project history: They were the first US submarines with deck guns. Their 76mm/23s retracted vertically into a deckhouse until only about half the barrel was extended, to reduce underwater drag.

    Of the first four boats, three failed on their surface runs; two failed their submerged battery runs. All required extensive overhauls before they could be accepted.

Modernizations: 1918, AL-1-4, 9-11: + SC sonar

Naval service: During 1917-18, L1-4 and L9-11 were stationed at Bantry Bay, Ireland. British waters they wore 'AL' numbers on the conning tower to distinguish them from the British 'L' class.

L10 1916

© Ivan Gogin, 2014