united states s class submarine

The United State's S-class submarines, often simply called the S-boats, were the first class of submarines built to a United States Navy design. (Note that many other navies had an "S class submarine;" see that disambiguation page for more information.) The first S-boat, S-1 (SS-105), was commissioned in 1918 and the last, S-51 (SS-162), in 1925. The S class is subdivided into four groups of slightly different designs:

Group I, (the S-1 or "Holland" class): S-1 and S-18 through S-41, built by Bethlehem Steel at Quincy, Massachusetts, and San Francisco, California.
Group II, (the S-2 or "Lake" class): S-2 through S-17, built at the Portsmouth Navy Yard and Lake Torpedo Boat at Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Group III, (the S-42 class): S-42 through S-47, built by Bethlehem Steel at Quincy, Massachusetts.
Group IV, (the S-48 class): S-48 through S-51, built by Bethlehem Steel at Quincy, Massachusetts.

The United States Navy commissioned 48 S-Class submarines between 1920 and 1922. The first of the S-boats, S-1 was launched on 26 September 1918 at the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, which was acting as subcontractor for Electric Boat, but not commissioned until 5 June 1920. These boats saw service in World War II in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. Smaller and slower than many of the submarines produced for war service, these boats were used in reconnaisance and supply roles. The majority of the boats that survived war service were scrapped in 1946.

General characteristics

Group I

Displacement: 854 tons surfaced; 1062 tons submerged
Length: 219 ft 3 in (67 m)
Propulsion: 2 x New London Ship and Engine diesels, 2 x Electro Dynamic, Ridgeway, or General Electric motors
Power: 1200 hp (890 kW) surfaced; 1500 hp (1120 kW) submerged
Speed: 14.5 knots (27 km/h) surfaced; 11 knots (20 km/h) submerged
Range: 5000 miles (8000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) surfaced
Depth: 200 ft (61 m)
Armament: 4 x forward 21 in (533 mm) tubes, 12 torpedoes; 1 x 4 in (102 mm) 50 caliber gun, 1 x .50 caliber (12.7mm) machine gun
Crew: 42 officers and men
Boats in Group: S-1 and S-18 through S-41

Group II

Displacement: 876 tons surfaced; 1092 tons submerged
Length: 231 ft (70 m)
Propulsion: 2 x M.A.N or Bush Selzer diesels, 2 x Westinghouse motors
Power: 2000 hp (1490 kW) surfaced; 1200 hp (890 kW) submerged
Speed: 15 knots surfaced; 11 knots (20 km/h) submerged
Range: 5000 miles (8000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) surfaced
Depth: 200 ft (61 m)
Armament: 4 x forward 21 in (533 mm) tubes, 12 torpedoes; 1 x 4 in (102 mm) 50 caliber gun, 1 x .50 caliber (12.7mm) machine gun
Crew: 42 officers and men
Boats in Group: S-2 through S-17

Group III

Displacement: 906 tons surfaced; 1126 tons submerged
Length: 225 ft (69 m)
Propulsion: 2 x New London Ship & Engine diesels, 2 x Electro Dynamic motors
Power: 1200 hp (890 kW) surfaced; 1500 hp (1120 kW) submerged
Speed: 14.5 knots (27 km/h) surfaced; 11 knots (20 km/h) submerged
Range: 5000 miles (8000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) surfaced
Depth: 200 ft (61 m)
Armament: 4 x 21 in (533 mm) forward tubes, 12 torpedoes; 1 x 4 in (102 mm) 50 caliber gun, 1 x .50 caliber (12.7mm) machine gun
Crew: 42 officers and men
Boats in Group: S-42 through S-47