USS Orca/K-3 (SS-34), also known as "Submarine No. 34", was a K-classsubmarine, of the United States Navy (USN). Originally named Orca, she was the first ship in the USN named for the orca, though she was renamed K-3 prior to being laid down.
The K-class boats had a length of 153ft 7in (46.8m), a beam of 16ft 8in (5.1m), and a mean draft of 13ft 1in (4.0m). They displaced451 long tons (458t), on the surface, and 527 long tons (535t) submerged. They had a diving depth of 200 feet (61.0m). The K-class submarines had a crew of 2 officers and 26 enlisted men.[3]
For surface running, the boats were powered by two 475-brake-horsepower (354kW)NELSECOdiesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 170-horsepower (127kW)electric motor. They could reach 14kn (26km/h; 16mph) on the surface and 10.5kn (19.4km/h; 12.1mph) underwater. On the surface, the boats had a range of 3,150nmi (5,830km; 3,620mi) at 11kn (20km/h; 13mph)[3] and 120nmi (220km; 140mi) at 5 knots (9.3km/h; 5.8mph) submerged.[4]
The K-class submarines were armed with four 18 inch (450 mm)torpedo tubes in the bow. They carried four reloads, for a total of eight torpedoes.[4]
Construction
K-3's keel was laid down on 15 January 1912, by the Union Iron Works, in San Francisco, California. Her name had changed from Orca, on 17 November 1911, she was the first US Navy ship named for the orca, another name for the killer whale. She was launched on 14 March 1914, sponsored by Mrs. Clarence Meigs Oddie, and commissioned on 30 October 1914.[5]
Service history
K-3 joined 3rd Submarine Division, Pacific Torpedo Flotilla 11, in December 1914, and operated along the California coast, developing underwater warfare tactics and coordinating the use of underseas craft with the fleet. She arrived in Hawaiian waters 14 October 1915, to perform similar exercises in the light of increasing emphasis on submarine warfare.[5]
The United State's entry into World War I placed a greater urgency on the need for experienced submariners, and K-3 was dispatched to Key West, Florida, arriving 8 January 1918. For the remainder of the war, she conducted patrols along the Florida coast, while training men in underwater techniques. K-3 continued operations along the East Coast after the war, testing new devices such as listening gear, storage batteries, and torpedoes.[5]
Fate
On 7 November 1922, the submarine arrived Hampton Roads, and decommissioned there 20 February 1923. She was scrapped 3 June 1931.[5]
Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-85177-245-5.
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