The L-class boats designed by Electric Boat (L-1 to L-4 and L-9 to L-11) were built to slightly different specifications from the other L boats, which were designed by Lake Torpedo Boat, and are sometimes considered a separate class. The Electric Boat submarines had a length of 168feet 6inches (51.4m)overall, a beam of 17feet 5inches (5.3m) and a mean draft of 13feet 7inches (4.1m). They displaced450 long tons (460t) on the surface and 548 long tons (557t) submerged. The L-class submarines had a crew of 28 officers and enlisted men. They had a diving depth of 200 feet (61.0m).[1]
For surface running, the Electric Boat submarines were powered by two 450-brake-horsepower (336kW)diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 170-horsepower (127kW)electric motor. They could reach 14 knots (26km/h; 16mph) on the surface and 10.5 knots (19.4km/h; 12.1mph) underwater. On the surface, the boats had a range of 5,150 nautical miles (9,540km; 5,930mi) at 11 knots (20km/h; 13mph)[1] and 150nmi (280km; 170mi) at 5 knots (9.3km/h; 5.8mph) submerged.[2]
The boats were armed with four 18-inch (450 mm)torpedo tubes in the bow. They carried four reloads, for a total of eight torpedoes. The Electric Boat submarines were initially not fitted with a deck gun; a single 3"/50 caliber gun on a disappearing mount was added during the war.[2]
Assigned to the Atlantic Submarine Flotilla, L-4 operated along the Atlantic coast, assisting in the development of new techniques in undersea warfare until April 1917.
Based at Berehaven for the rest of the war, U.S. submarines protected Allied shipping from U-boat attacks. Following the Armistice with Germany, L-4 departed the Isle of Portland, England, on 3 January 1919 for the United States, arriving Philadelphia on 1 February.
For the next two years, the submarine operated along the East Coast performing experiments developing the tactics of undersea warfare. L-4 decommissioned at Philadelphia on 14 April 1922 and was sold to Pottstown Steel Company in Douglassville, Pennsylvania, on 31 July 1922 for scrapping.
USS F-2 (SS-21) was an F-class submarine built for the United States Navy during the 1910s.
USS O-11 (SS-72) was one of 16 O-class submarines built for the United States Navy during World War I.
USS O-15 (SS-76) was one of 16 O-class submarines built for the United States Navy during World War I.
USS N-1 (SS-53) was a N-class coastal defense submarine built for the United States Navy during World War I.
USS N-2 (SS-54) was a N-class coastal defense submarine built for the United States Navy during World War I.
USS N-7 (SS-59) was a N-class coastal defense submarine built for the United States Navy during World War I.
USS L-2 (SS-41) was an L-class submarine of the United States Navy.
USS L-3 (SS-42) was an L-class submarine of the United States Navy.
USS L-5 (SS-44) was an L-class submarine built for the United States Navy during the 1910s.
USS L-6 (SS-45) was an L-class submarine built for the United States Navy during the 1910s.
USS L-7 (SS-46) was an L-class submarine built for the United States Navy during the 1910s.
USS L-8 (SS-48) was an L-class submarine built for the United States Navy during the 1910s.
USS L-9 (SS-49) was an L-class submarine of the United States Navy.
USS L-10 (SS-50) was an L-class submarine of the United States Navy.
USS L-11 (SS-51) was an L-class submarine of the United States Navy.
USS K-3 (SS-34) was a K-class submarine built for the United States Navy during the 1910s.
USS K-7 (SS-34) was a K-class submarine built for the United States Navy during the 1910s.
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 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.
The United States N-class submarines were a class of seven coastal defense submarines built for the United States Navy during World War I.
References
Friedman, Norman (1995). U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-55750-263-3.
Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-85177-245-5.
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