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USS S-3 (SS-107)
Encyclopedia
USS S-3 (SS-107) was the prototype of the "Government-type" S-class
submarine
s of the United States Navy
. ( was the "Holland-type" prototype and the "Lake-type".) Her keel was laid down on 29 August 1917 by the Portsmouth Navy Yard. She was launched
on 21 December 1918 sponsored by Mrs. William L. Hill, and commissioned
on 30 January 1919 with Commander
John W. Lewis in command.
Following outfitting and trials, S-3 began her career with training operations along the New England
coast operating out of Portsmouth and New London, Connecticut
. In 1920, she twice visited Havana, Cuba: first in January, and again in December.
In July 1921, she was attached to Submarine Division 12 (SubDiv 12) which, along with SubDiv 18, was to rendezvous off Portsmouth for the longest voyage on record, at that time, for American submarines. The two divisions were assigned to the Asiatic Fleet
as Submarine Flotilla 3 (SubFlot 3) at the Cavite Naval Station in the Philippine Islands. They sailed via the Panama Canal
to Pearl Harbor
, where S-3 was detached and reassigned to operate on the West Coast from Mare Island, California. The two divisions continued on and successfully completed the voyage, arriving at Cavite on 1 December.
S-3 departed Pearl Harbor on 9 November and sailed to the West Coast where she operated until mid-July 1923. On 17 July, she took departure from San Francisco Bay
to retransit the Panama Canal en route to New London.
Reaching New London on 5 September, she was attached to SubDiv 2, Atlantic Fleet
, and assigned experimental duty at the Submarine School at New London, assuming the duties of , flagship
of SubDiv 2, which was conducting special experiments with aircraft
. During the remainder of 1923 and the years following, into 1927, she ranged the East Coast conducting training operations and evaluating new techniques in submarine development.
In July 1927, S-3 and S-1 formed SubDiv 4 and began a schedule which included operational cruises to the Panama Canal Zone in the spring months of 1928-1930. The remaining months of those years were spent in operations along the New England coast.
Early in 1931, S-3 was ordered to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, for inactivation. She was decommissioned there on 24 March and laid up. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register
on 25 January 1937 and subsequently scrapped.
United States S class submarine
The United States' S-class submarines, often simply called S-boats , were the first class of submarines built to a United States Navy design....
submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. ( was the "Holland-type" prototype and the "Lake-type".) Her keel was laid down on 29 August 1917 by the Portsmouth Navy Yard. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 21 December 1918 sponsored by Mrs. William L. Hill, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 30 January 1919 with Commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
John W. Lewis in command.
Following outfitting and trials, S-3 began her career with training operations along the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
coast operating out of Portsmouth and New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
. In 1920, she twice visited Havana, Cuba: first in January, and again in December.
In July 1921, she was attached to Submarine Division 12 (SubDiv 12) which, along with SubDiv 18, was to rendezvous off Portsmouth for the longest voyage on record, at that time, for American submarines. The two divisions were assigned to the Asiatic Fleet
United States Asiatic Fleet
The United States Asiatic Fleet was part of the U.S. Navy. Preceding the World War II era, until 1942, the fleet protected the Philippines.Originally the Asiatic Squadron, it was upgraded to fleet status in 1902. In 1907, the fleet became the First Squadron of the Pacific Fleet. However, on 28...
as Submarine Flotilla 3 (SubFlot 3) at the Cavite Naval Station in the Philippine Islands. They sailed via the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
to Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, where S-3 was detached and reassigned to operate on the West Coast from Mare Island, California. The two divisions continued on and successfully completed the voyage, arriving at Cavite on 1 December.
S-3 departed Pearl Harbor on 9 November and sailed to the West Coast where she operated until mid-July 1923. On 17 July, she took departure from San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
to retransit the Panama Canal en route to New London.
Reaching New London on 5 September, she was attached to SubDiv 2, Atlantic Fleet
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
, and assigned experimental duty at the Submarine School at New London, assuming the duties of , flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of SubDiv 2, which was conducting special experiments with aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
. During the remainder of 1923 and the years following, into 1927, she ranged the East Coast conducting training operations and evaluating new techniques in submarine development.
In July 1927, S-3 and S-1 formed SubDiv 4 and began a schedule which included operational cruises to the Panama Canal Zone in the spring months of 1928-1930. The remaining months of those years were spent in operations along the New England coast.
Early in 1931, S-3 was ordered to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, for inactivation. She was decommissioned there on 24 March and laid up. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 25 January 1937 and subsequently scrapped.