Submarine USS O-1 (SS-62)

Submarine USS O-1 (SS-62) was authorized to be built by the United States Congressional Act of 3 March 1915, which stated in part:

"Two submarines to be of seagoing type to have a surface speed of twenty-five knots or more if possible, but not less than twenty knots, to cost, exclusive of armor and armament, not exceeding $1,500,000 each, and sixteen submarines to cost, exclusive of armor and armament, not exceeding $550,000 each, and the sum of $4,090,000 is here-by appropriated for said purpose to be available until expended.

"Five of the submarine torpedo boats herein authorized shall be built on the Pacific coast: PROVIDED, That the cost of construction on the Pacific coast does not exceed the cost of construction on the Atlantic coast plus the cost of transportation from the Atlantic to the Pacific..."

The keel of USS O-1 (SS-62), the first of its class of submarine, was laid down on 26 March 1917 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine...the second submarine designated to be built by that navy yard.

The submarine was launched from the Franklin Shiphouse on 9 July 1918.

The submersible was placed in commission at the Portsmouth Navy Yard on 5 November 1918 with Lieutenant Commander Norman L. Kirk in command.

When commissioned, the O-1 Class coastal and harbor defense submarine was 172'4" in length overall; had an extreme beam of 18'; had a normal surface displacement of 521 tons, and, when in that condition, had a mean draft of 14'5". Submerged displacement was 629 tons. The submarine was of riveted construction. The designed compliment was two officers and twenty-seven enlisted men. The boat could operate safely to depths of 200 feet. The submarine was armed with four 18-inch torpedo tubes installed in the bow. Eight torpedoes were carried. One 3-inch/23 caliber deck gun was installed. The gun was stowed below the superstructure deck when not in use. The full load of diesel oil carried was 21,897 gallons, which fueled 880 designed brake horsepower diesel engines manufactured by the New London Ship and Engine Company at Groton, Connecticut, which could drive the boat at fourteen knots on the surface in a relatively calm sea. Submerged propulsion was provided by a 120-cell main storage battery ... manufactured by the Gould Storage Battery Company at Trenton in New Jersey...which powered 740 designed brake horsepower main propulsion electric motors manufactured by the New York Navy Yard at Brooklyn, New York...which turned propeller shafts...which turned propellers ... which could drive the submarine at 10.5 knots for a short period of time when operating beneath the surface of the sea. Slower submerged speeds resulted in greater endurances before the batteries needed to be recharged by the engines and generators.

Commissioned just six days before the Armistice, which ended the shooting portion of the First World War, went into effect, USS O-1 operated in the Atlantic coastal waters from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Key West, Florida...after that war ended.

Reclassified to a second line submarine on 25 July 1924, and to a first line submarine on 6 June 1928, USS O-1 was converted to an experimental submarine on 28 December 1930...and operated in an experimental capacity out of the United States Naval Submarine Base at New London/Groton, Connecticut...until decommissioned on 11 June 1931.

USS O-1 (SS-62) was struck from the Navy Register on 18 May 1938, and, subsequently, sold for scrap.

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