Submarine USS O-10 (SS-71)

Submarine USS O-10 (SS-71) 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 hereby appropriated for said purpose to be available until expended.

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"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-10 (SS-71) was laid down on 27 February 1917 bythe Fore River Shipbuilding Company at Quincy, Massachusetts...under a subcontract from the Electric Boat Company of New York. The submarine was christened by Mrs. John E. Bailey and launched on 21 February 1918 and commissioned on 17 August 1918 with Lieutenant Sherwood Picking 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 Electric Storage Battery Company (EXIDE) at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ... which powered 740 designed brake horsepower main propulsion electric motors manufactured by the Electro Dynamic Company at Bayonne, New Jersey...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.

USS O-10 (SS-71), operating out of the Philadelphia Navy Yard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, added to United States efforts in World War I to keep east coast shipping lanes clear of enemy German U-boats by patrolling from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Key West, Florida...until 2 November 1918. On that date the submarine departed Newport, Rhode Island, with other submarines, for service in European waters.

However, the 11 November 1918 Armistice, which ended the shooting portion of World War I, went into effect before the submarines reached the Azores. So, they reversed course and transited back to the United States.

During 1919, USS O-10 joined other submarines of her class at the United States Naval Submarine Base at New London/Groton, Connecticut. There, she trained potential submariners undergoing instruction at the Submarine School.

During 1924, USS O-10 transited to Coco Solo in the Panama Canal Zone...where she participated in operations and exercises...and assisted in guarding the approaches to the Panama Canal. While there, on 25 July 1924, the submersible was reclassified as a second-line submarine.

Back at New London/Groton, while serving as a "school boat" for the Submarine School, USS O-10 reverted back to first-line status on 6 June 1928. She continued her training duties until January of 1930...when she transited north to the Portsmouth Navy Yard at Kittery, Maine. The following month the submarine returned to the Connecticut submarine base and resumed her school boat duties...until February of 1931. Then, she transited to the Philadelphia Navy Yard...and decommissioned there on 25 June 1931...and was placed in the reserve fleet at that Navy yard.

With the approach of United States involvement in World War II, there was a recognized need for numerous training submarines. Accordingly, USS O-10 was recommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 10 March 1941 and transited to New London/Groton two months later.

USS O-10 departed her Connecticut base on a trial run to the Portsmouth Navy Yard on 19 June 1941...the day before USS O-9 (SS-70) failed to surface from a test dive east of the Isles of Shoals near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. USS O-10 joined in the search for her sister submarine but found no trace of her. At 1655 on 22 June 1941, USS Triton (SS-201), with Secretary of the Navy Knox on board, fired a 21-gun salute for the 34 crew members lost on the ill-fated submarine.

Returning to New London/Groton, USS O-10 trained submariners there until the end of World War II...which occurred on 2 September 1945. Then she transited to the Portsmouth Navy Yard and decommissioned there on 10 September 1945.

On 11 October 1945 USS O-10 (SS-71) was struck from the Navy Register.

On 21 August 1946, the submarine was sold to the John J. Duane Company of Quincy, Massachusetts, for subsequent scrapping.

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