Submarine USS O-4 (SS-65)

Submarine USS O-4 (SS-65) 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-4 (SS-65) was laid down on 4 December 1916 by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company at Quincy, Massachusetts ... under a subcontract from the Electric Boat Company of New York. The submarine was launched on 20 October 1917 and commissioned on 29 May 1918 with Lieutenant R. H. English 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-4 (SS-65) operated out of the Philadelphia Navy Yard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the First World War and patrolled in the waters of the United States Atlantic coast from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Key West, Florida.

On 24 July 1918, a British steamer mistook USS O-4, and accompanying submarine USS O-6 (SS-67), for enemy German U-boats, and fired at the American submarines. Although USS O-4 received six hits from the steamer, she suffered no major damage.

In November, USS O-4 joined the 20-submarine contingent that departed Newport, Rhode Island, on the 3rd, for European waters, as a unit of Submarine Division Eight. However, hostilities ceased on 11 November 1918, before the boats had reached the Azores, so all units transited back to the United States.

USS O-4 then reported to the United States Naval Submarine Base at New London/Groton, Connecticut ... to train officer and enlisted personnel students at the Submarine School located at that base.

Reclassified as a second line submarine on 26 July 1924, and reverting back to a first line submarine on 6 June 1928, USS O-4 trained Submarine School students at New London/Groton until 1931, with the exception of a brief tour of duty at Coco Solo in the Panama Canal Zone.

USS O-4 was decommissioned on 3 June 1931 and placed in the reserve fleet.

The approach of World War II saw the recall of USS O-4 to active service. The submarine recommissioned on 29 January 1941 and reported to the Submarine School at New London/Groton...where she served, once again, as a school boat.

When the surrender papers were signed on the deck of Battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan, on 2 September 1945, thereby ending the Second World War, the training duties of USS O-4 were terminated.

USS O-4 (SS-65) transited to the Portsmouth Navy Yard at Kittery, Maine ... and decommissioned, there, on 20 September 1945.

The submarine was struck from the Navy Register on 11 October 1945 and scrapped on 1 February 1946.

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