USS B-1 (SS-10) was christened by Mrs. Lawrence Y. Spear and launched on 30 March 1907 by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company... subcontractor for the Electric Boat Company (Successor to the John P. Holland Torpedo Boat Company of New York)...at Quincy, Massachusetts, as USS Viper (SS-10). The 10th submarine ordered built for the Navy was commissioned on 18 October 1907 with Lieutenant D.C. Bingham in command. USS Viper then reported for duty to the Second Submarine Flotilla of the United States Atlantic Fleet.

When commissioned, USS Viper displaced 145 tons on the surface (normal) and 173 tons submerged; was 82'5" in length overall; had an extreme beam of 12'6"; drew 10'7" of water (mean) when on the surface in diving trim; was manned by 1 officer and 9 enlisted men; could safely submerge to 150'; was armed with two 18-inch torpedo tubes and carried 4 torpedoes; carried 1,880 gallons of gasoline which fueled a Craig gasoline internal combustion engine of 250 brake horsepower...which could drive the submarine at 9 knots when on the surface; and had 60 Exide storage battery cells that powered an Electro Dynamic Company built 150 brake horsepower electric motor that could drive the submarine at 8 knots submerged. USS Viper was the lead ship of the B Class of submarines.

USS Viper cruised along the Atlantic coast on training and experimental exercises until going into reserve at the Charleston Navy Yard on 30 November 1909.

Recommissioned on 15 April 1910, she served with the Atlantic Torpedo Fleet until assigned to the Reserve Torpedo Group at Charleston Navy Yard on 9 May 1911. On 17 November 1911, her name was changed to USS B-1. In April of 1914, USS B-1 was towed to Norfolk, Virginia, and later loaded on board USS Hector (AC-7) for transport to the Philippine Islands. Arriving at Olongapo, Luzon, on 24 March 1915, USS B-1 was launched from the deck of USS Hector on 15 April 1915 and recommissioned two days later.

USS B-1 was assigned to the First Submarine Division, Torpedo Flotilla, Asiatic Fleet, on 19 May 1915, and later served with the Second Submarine Division in Manila Bay. On 1 December 1921, USS B-1 was decommissioned at Cavite, Philippine Islands, and subsequently used as a target.