USS Walrus/K-4 (SS-35), also known as "Submarine No. 35", was a K-classsubmarine, of the United States Navy (USN). Originally named Walrus, she was the first ship in the USN named for the walrus, though she was renamed K-4 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-4's keel was laid down on 27 January 1912, by the Moran Company, in Seattle, Washington. Her named had changed from Walrus, on 17 November 1911, she was 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. She was launched on 19 March 1914, sponsored by Mrs. James P. Olding, wife of the commanding officer, and commissioned on 24 October 1914.[5]
Service history
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.[5]
Fate
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.[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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