Submarine USS B-2 (SS-11) - Ship's History

USS B-2 (SS-11) was launched on 1 September 1906 by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company at Quincy, Massachusetts, as USS Cuttlefish (SS-11). At the launching, the B Class submarine was christened by Miss Eleanor Gow, daughter of Commander J.L. Gow. The submarine was commissioned on 18 October 1907, with Lieutenant E.J. Marquart in command. Subsequently, the submersible reported to the Second Submarine Flotilla, United States Atlantic Fleet, for duty.

When commissioned, USS Cuttlefish was 82'5" in length overall; had an extreme beam of 12'6"; had a normal surface displacement of 145 tons when in diving trim, and a submerged displacement of 173 tons; drew 10'7" (mean) of water when in diving trim on the surface; was designed to safely dive to 150'; was manned by 1 officer and 9 enlisted men; was armed with two 18-inch torpedo tubes (four torpedoes were carried); could make 9 knots on the surface and 8 knots submerged; had a Craig gasoline internal combustion engine of 250 brake horsepower that drove the submarine on the surface (1,880 gallons of gasoline were carried); and sixty Exide storage battery cells supplied electricity to a 150 brake horsepower Electro Dynamic Company manufactured electric motor...for submerged propulsion.

USS Cuttlefish operated along the Atlantic coast, running experiments, testing machinery and equipment, and conducting extensive training 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 joining the Reserve Torpedo

Group at the Charleston Navy Yard on 9 May 1911. The boat was renamed USS B-2 on 17 November 1911. USS B-2 remained in reserve until placed out of commission on 4 December 1912. On 6 December 1912, she was towed to Norfolk, Virginia, and loaded on board USS Ajax (AC-15) for transfer to the Asiatic Station. Sailing via the Suez Canal, USS Ajax arrived at Cavite, Philippine Islands, on 30 April 1913. On 12 May,

USS B-2 was launched from the deck of USS Ajax. She was recommissioned on 2 August 1913 and assigned to the Torpedo Flotilla, Asiatic Fleet.

USS B-2 remained on duty in the Philippine Islands until decommissioned at Cavite on 12 December 1919. USS B-2 (SS-11) was subsequently used as a target.

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