Submarine USS O-11 (SS-72)

Submarine USS O-11 (SS-72) 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.

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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-11 (SS-72) was laid down on 6 March 1916 by the Lake Torpedo Boat Company at Bridgeport, Connecticut. The submarine was christened by Mrs. Bernard M. Baruch and launched on 29 October 1917. Commissioning took place at the New York Navy Yard at Brooklyn, New York, on 19 October 1918, with Lieutenant Commander F. W. Scanland in command.

When commissioned, the O-11 Class coastal and harbor defense submarine was 175' in length overall; had an extreme beam of 16'7"; had a normal surface displacement of 491 tons, and, when in that condition, had a mean draft of 13'11". Submerged displacement was 566 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 18,588 gallons, which fueled 1,000 designed brake horsepower diesel engines manufactured by the Busch- Sulzer Brothers Diesel Engine Company at Saint Louis, Missouri, 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 800 designed brake horsepower main propulsion electric motors manufactured by the Diehl Manufacturing Company at Bridgeport, New York...which turned propeller shafts...which turned propellers...which could drive the submarine at 11 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 too late for World War I service, USS O-11 (SS-72) joined other submarines of her class at Cape May, New Jersey in 1919.

On 20 September 1919, USS O-11 was placed in commission, in reserve, at Cape May. The following month, the submarine transited up Delaware Bay and the Delaware River to the Philadelphia Navy Yard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There, shipyard workmen spent many months preparing the submarine for an upcoming deployment to Coco Solo in the Panama Canal Zone.

The arrival of a submarine squadron at Coco Solo in 1913 had demonstrated the usefulness of the submarines. The base continued as a distant submarine overhaul and testing area into the 1920s.

USS O-11 reported to Coco Solo for duty in 1922. After deck crews had brought the submarine up to prime efficiency, the submersible took several test dives off Panama during the spring of 1923.

During October of 1923, USS O-11 transited to the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

USS O-11 (SS-72) decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 21 June 1924...and was turned over to the Commandant, Navy Yard, Philadelphia. The submarine was placed in the reserve fleet at that Navy yard.

Struck from the Navy Register on 9 May 1930, the submarine was sold, during July of 1930, to a shipbreaker, for subsequent scrapping.

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