USS K-4

Last updated
Uss K-4 1914.jpg
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS K-4
Builder The Moran Company, Seattle, Washington
Laid down27 January 1912 as Walrus
Launched19 March 1914
Commissioned24 October 1914
Decommissioned10 May 1923
ReclassifiedSS-35, 17 July 1920
Stricken18 December 1930
FateSold for scrapping, 3 June 1931
General characteristics
Type K-class submarine
Displacement
  • 392 long tons (398 t) surfaced
  • 520 long tons (528 t) submerged
Length153 ft 7 in (46.8 m)
Beam16 ft 8 in (5.1 m)
Draft13 ft 1 in (4.0 m)
Installed power
  • 950  bhp (710 kW) (diesel)
  • 340 hp (250 kW) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) surfaced
  • 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) submerged
Range
  • 3,150  nmi (5,830 km; 3,620 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) on the surface
  • 120 nmi (220 km; 140 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth200 feet (61.0 m)
Complement28 officers and enlisted men
Armament4 × bow 18 inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes

USS K-4 (SS-35) was a K-class submarine built for the United States Navy during the 1910s.

Contents

Description

The K-class boats had a length of 153 feet 7 inches (46.8 m) overall, a beam of 16 feet 8 inches (5.1 m) and a mean draft of 13 feet 1 inch (4.0 m). They displaced 451 long tons (458 t) on the surface and 527 long tons (535 t) submerged. The K-class submarines had a crew of 2 officers and 26 enlisted men. They had a diving depth of 200 feet (61.0 m). [1]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 475- brake-horsepower (354 kW) NELSECO diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 170-horsepower (127 kW) electric motor. They could reach 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) on the surface and 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) underwater. On the surface, the oats had a range of 3,150 nautical miles (5,830 km; 3,620 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) [1] and 120 nmi (220 km; 140 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged. [2]

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. [2]

Construction and career

The boat was laid down by the Moran Company in Seattle, Washington, as Walrus, making her the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the walrus, a gregarious, aquatic mammal related to the seal found in Arctic waters, but on 17 November 1911 she was renamed K-4. She was launched on 19 March 1914 sponsored by Mrs. James P. Olding, wife of the commanding officer, and commissioned on 24 October 1914.

Joining the Pacific Torpedo Flotilla, K-4 operated along the coast of California, conducting constant exercises and experiments to develop the techniques of submarine warfare. From 14 October 1915 to 31 October 1917, she carried out similar operations in the Hawaiian Islands. When the United States's involvement in World War I called for increased naval activity, K-4 departed Hawaii for service out of Key West, Florida, arriving 9 January 1918. For the rest of the war, she remained at Key West, where she patrolled the Florida peninsula. After the Armistice with Germany of 11 November 1918, K-4 operated along the East Coast training officers and men for duty in submarines. She continued these duties for four years before arriving at Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 24 March 1923. K-4 decommissioned there 10 May 1923 and was sold as scrap on 3 June 1931.

Notes

  1. 1 2 Friedman, p. 307
  2. 1 2 Gardiner & Gray, p. 128

Related Research Articles

USS <i>F-2</i> (SS-21) F-class submarine of the United States

USS F-2 (SS-21) was an F-class submarine built for the United States Navy during the 1910s.

USS <i>O-1</i> O-class submarine of the United States

USS O-1 (SS-62) was the lead ship of her class of submarines built for the United States Navy during World War I.

USS <i>R-22</i> (SS-99) Submarine of the United States

USS R-23 (SS-99) was an R-class coastal and harbor defense submarine built for the United States Navy during World War I.

USS <i>R-23</i> (SS-100) US Navy submarine

USS R-23 (SS-100) was an R-class coastal and harbor defense submarine built for the United States Navy during World War I.

USS <i>R-26</i> (SS-103) Submarine of the United States

USS R-26 (SS-103) was an R-class coastal and harbor defense submarine built for the United States Navy during World War I.

USS <i>R-25</i> (SS-102) Submarine of the United States

USS R-25 (SS-102) was an R-class coastal and harbor defense submarine built for the United States Navy during World War I.

USS <i>R-27</i> (SS-104) Submarine of the United States

USS R-27 (SS-104) was an R-class coastal and harbor defense submarine built for the United States Navy during World War I.

USS <i>N-7</i> N-class submarine of the United States

USS N-7 (SS-59) was a N-class coastal defense submarine built for the United States Navy during World War I.

USS <i>L-5</i> L-class submarine of the United States

USS L-5 (SS-44) was an L-class submarine built for the United States Navy during the 1910s.

USS <i>K-3</i> (SS-34) K-class submarine of the United States

USS K-3 (SS-34) was a K-class submarine built for the United States Navy during the 1910s.

USS <i>H-4</i> H-class submarine of the United States

USS H-4 (SS-147) was a H-class submarine originally built for the Imperial Russian Navy. Six of these were not delivered pending the outcome of the Russian Revolution of 1917 before being purchased by the United States Navy on 20 May 1918.

USS <i>H-5</i> H-class submarine of the United States

USS H-5 (SS-148) was a H-class submarine originally built for the Imperial Russian Navy. Six of these were not delivered pending the outcome of the Russian Revolution of 1917 before being purchased by the United States Navy on 20 May 1918.

USS <i>H-6</i> H-class submarine of the United States

USS H-6 (SS-149) was a H-class submarine originally built for the Imperial Russian Navy. Six of these were not delivered pending the outcome of the Russian Revolution of 1917 before being purchased by the United States Navy on 20 May 1918.

USS <i>H-7</i> (SS-150) H-class submarine of the United States

USS H-7 (SS-150) was a H-class submarine originally built for the Imperial Russian Navy. Six of these were not delivered pending the outcome of the Russian Revolution of 1917 before being purchased by the United States Navy on 20 May 1918.

USS <i>H-8</i> Submarine of the United States

USS H-8 (SS-151) was a H-class submarine originally built for the Imperial Russian Navy. Six of these were not delivered pending the outcome of the Russian Revolution of 1917 before being purchased by the United States Navy on 20 May 1918.

USS <i>H-9</i> Submarine of the United States

USS H-9 (SS-152) was a H-class submarine originally built for the Imperial Russian Navy. Six of these were not delivered pending the outcome of the Russian Revolution of 1917 before being purchased by the United States Navy on 20 May 1918.

USS <i>C-2</i> C-class submarine of the United States

USS C-2 (SS-13) was one of five C-class submarines built for the United States Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.

USS <i>C-4</i> C-class submarine of the United States

USS C-4 (SS-15) one of five C-class submarines built for the United States Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.

USS <i>C-3</i> C-class submarine of the United States

USS C-3 (SS-14) was one of five C-class submarines built for the United States Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.

USS <i>B-1</i> B-class submarine of the United States

USS B-1 (SS-10) was the lead ship of her class of submarines built for the United States Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.