Submarine USS B-3 (SS-12) - Ship's History

USS B-3 (SS-12) was launched on 30 March 1907 by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company at Quincy, Massachusetts, as USS Tarantula (SS-12). At the launching, the B Class submarine was christened by Mrs. George S. Radford, wife of Naval Constructor Radford. The boat was commissioned on 3 December 1907, with Lieutenant J.F. Daniels in command. Subsequently, the submersible reported to the United States Atlantic Fleet for duty.

When commissioned, USS Tarantula 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 Tarantula operated along the Atlantic coast with the First and Second Submarine Flotillas on training and experimental exercises until going into reserve at the Charleston Navy Yard on 6 November 1909. She was recommissioned on 15 April 1910 and served with the Atlantic Torpedo Fleet until assigned to the Reserve Torpedo Group at the Charleston Navy Yard on 9 May 1911. On 17 November 1911, USS Tarantula was renamed USS B-3. On 4 December 1912, USS B-3 was placed out of commission. On 6 December 1912, USS B-3 was towed to Norfolk, Virginia, and loaded on board USS Ajax (AC-15) for transfer to the Asiatic Station. Arriving at Cavite, Philippine Islands, on 30 April 1913, USS B-3 was launched from USS Ajax on 12 May. She was recommissioned on 2 September 1913 and remained in the Philippine Islands...where she served with Submarine Division 4, Torpedo Flotilla, Asiatic Fleet.

Decommissioned at Cavite on 25 July 1921, USS B-3 (SS-12) was subsequently used as a target.

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