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fighting ships of the world

UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

SUBMARINES

"S", 4th group (Navy yard type) submarines (1919-1923)

S3 1919

No Name Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate
SS107 S3   Portsmouth N Yd 8.1917 21.12.1918 1.1919 stricken 1.1937
SS109 S4   Portsmouth N Yd 12.1917 27.8.1919 11.1919 stricken 1.1936
SS110 S5   Portsmouth N Yd 12.1917 10.11.1919 3.1920 foundered 1.9.1920
SS111 S6   Portsmouth N Yd 1.1918 23.12.1919 5.1920 stricken 1.1937
SS112 S7   Portsmouth N Yd 1.1918 5.2.1920 7.1920 stricken 1.1937
SS113 S8   Portsmouth N Yd 11.1918 21.4.1920 10.1920 stricken 1.1937
SS114 S9   Portsmouth N Yd 1.1919 17.6.1920 2.1921 stricken 1.1937
SS115 S10   Portsmouth N Yd 9.1919 1.12.1920 9.1922 stricken 1.1936
SS116 S11   Portsmouth N Yd 12/1919 7.2.1921 1.1923 stricken 10.1945
SS117 S12   Portsmouth N Yd 1/1920 4.8.1921 4.1923 stricken 5.1945
SS118 S13   Portsmouth N Yd 2/1920 20.10.1921 7.1923 stricken 10.1945
SS119 S14   Lake, Bridgeport 12/1917 22.10.1919 2.1921 stricken 5.1945
SS120 S15   Lake, Bridgeport 12/1917 8.3.1920 1.1921 stricken 6.1946
SS121 S16   Lake, Bridgeport 3/1918 23.12.1919 12.1920 stricken 10.1944
SS122 S17   Lake, Bridgeport 3/1918 22.5.1920 3.1921 stricken 11.1944

 

Displacement standard, t

 

Displacement normal, t

SS107: 875 / 1088

SS109 - 122: 876 / 1092

Length, m

70.4

Breadth, m

6.70

Draught, m

4.00

No of shafts

2

Machinery

SS107, 109-114: 2 NLSE diesels / 2 electric motors

SS115-122: 2 MAN diesels / 2 electric motors

Power, h. p.

SS107: 1400 / 1200

SS109 - 122: 2000 / 1200

Max speed, kts

15 / 11

Fuel, t

diesel oil 148

Endurance, nm(kts) 5000 (10)

Armament

SS107, 109 - 118: 1 x 1 - 102/50 Mk IX, 5 - 533 TT (4 bow, 1 stern, 14)

SS119 - 122: 1 x 1 - 102/50 Mk IX, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 12)

Electronic equipment SC sonar

Complement

38

Diving depth operational, m

60

   

Project history: The further development of R class submarines. They were built under three notably differed designs developed by Holland, Lake and Bureau of construction. After the acquisition of these designs by General board in 1917 one submarine was built under each of them as "prototype" (S1, 2 and 3 respectively). Lake variant (S2) appeared unsuccessful, and later Lake built submarines under Bureau design.

Serial building was developed under two designs: 24 submarines (S18-41) by Holland and 14 (S4-17) by Bureau. They were followed by 10 almost same boats of the second series (S42-47 by Holland and S48-51 by Bureau).

The basic difference between Holland  and Bureau designs consisted in a hull construction: in the first case it was fulfilled single-hulled, in second double-hulled. The diving depth was identical. Submarines built by Lake Torpedo Boat, had additional stern TT. As when these submarines were designed, an opinion about necessity of providing of the highest submerged speed was dominated, CT on them were fulfilled as much as possible streamlined. On trials "prototypes" demonstrated outstanding results, achieved 12.5 to 13kts submerged. First World War experience, however, has shown, that superfluous 2-3kts are not so necessary in comparison with safety of crew, therefore already during completion "serial" submarines received less streamlined, but much more convenient CTs.

Though 'S' class submarines notably exceeded the predecessors on the majority of characteristics, naval authorities in 1925 recognized them as unsuccessful because of insufficient endurance for Pacific service.

Modernizations: 1939-1940, all survived: + 1 x 1 - 12.7/90, JK sonar

1940s, most survived: - SC sonar; + SD radar, QB or QC sonars

1.1946, SS120: 4 - 533 TT (bow, 12), 1 x 1 - 102/50 Mk 12, 1 x 1 - 12.7/90, SD radar, QB or QC, JK sonars

Naval service: S5 was accidentally foundered in submerged position 1.9.1920. S16 13.7.1942 was erroneously damaged at coast of Panama by American aircraft. She was laid up to reserve 4.10.1944 and sunk as target 3.4.1945 off Key West (Florida).

S3 1927

© Ivan Gogin, 2014-15