United States E-class submarine

Last updated
USS E-1;0802401.jpg
USS E-1, lead ship of the class
Class overview
NameE class
Builders
OperatorsFlag of the United States.svg  United States Navy
Preceded by D class
Succeeded by F class
Built1911–1912
In commission1912–1921
Completed2
Retired2
General characteristics
Type Submarine
Displacement
  • 287 long tons (292 t) surfaced
  • 342 long tons (347 t) submerged
Length135 ft 3 in (41.22 m)
Beam14 ft 7 in (4.45 m)
Draft11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph) surfaced
  • 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) submerged
Range
  • 2,100 nmi (3,900 km) at 11 kn (20 km/h; 13 mph) surfaced (8,486 US gal (32,120 L; 7,066 imp gal) fuel)
  • 100 nmi (190 km) at 5 kn (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth200 ft (61 m)
Complement20
Armament

The E-class submarines were a class of two United States Navy submarines, built by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company of Quincy, Massachusetts, under a subcontract from the Electric Boat Company. They were used as coastal and harbor defense submarines prior to World War I. When hostilities broke out, the E class were mostly used as training boats; however, E-1 operated on war patrols based in the Azores. During this time, the need for an improved permanent bridge structure was discovered; the temporary piping-and-canvas bridges were inadequate in the North Atlantic.

Contents

Design

The two E-class submarines were analogous to the preceding D-class submarine, with very similar size and displacement and the same armament. [2] They were essentially diesel powered D-class boats, [3] and were the first U.S. diesel-powered submarines. The French "Z" (Q 36) was the first in the world, in 1905. [4] Although early diesels were unreliable and the E class engines were replaced in 1915, diesels rapidly supplanted gasoline-fueled engines aboard submarines worldwide, to eliminate the substantial risk of gasoline fumes settling into the bilges of the boat at explosive concentrations.

Submerged controllability problems associated with the ever increasing size of USN submarines lead the force to adopt bow diving planes for the first time in this class. [5] The bow planes were for precision depth control,. [1] while the traditional set of stern diving planes handled angle control. Grayling (D-2) of the previous class tested a prototype set of bow planes and the tests were entirely successful. [6] A larger and retractable set was installed on the E-class, setting the standard that lasted until the Skipjack-class nuclear submarines of the late 1950s.

The small conning tower fairwater (also known as a sail) initially precluded any sort of bridge structure for surface cruising. For extended surface runs, a temporary piping-and-canvas structure was erected to give the topside watchstanders some protection from the elements. [7] The considerable time required to dismantle that structure made "crash" diving the boat impossible, but that was not seen as an impediment as USN doctrine did not call for crash dives at that time. Experience in World War I showed that the piping-and-canvas structure was inadequate in North Atlantic weather, and USN submarines serving overseas in that war (E, K, and L-classes) had the forward structure of the fairwater modified with a metal "chariot" shield. Starting in 1918-1919 using lessons learned from overseas experience, U.S. submarines had bridges more suited to surfaced operations in rough weather. [8] By 1920, even E-2 had been retrofitted with a permanent metal chariot bridge structure. [9]

History

The E-class and similar early submarines were known as "pig boats" due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. [10] The E class was used to test and evaluate tactics and new equipment, but was quickly overtaken by newer long-range, ocean-going submarines. E-1 was forward deployed to the Azores in World War I, the oldest and smallest US submarine to perform war patrols in that war. The class was decommissioned and scrapped in 1922 to comply with the Washington Naval Treaty.

Boats in class

Related Research Articles

<i>Gato</i>-class submarine US Navy fleet submarine class

The Gato class of submarines were built for the United States Navy and launched in 1941–1943. Named after the lead ship of the class, USS Gato, they were the first mass-production U.S. submarine class of World War II.

<i>Skipjack</i>-class submarine Early cold-war US nuclear attack submarine

The Skipjack class was a class of United States Navy nuclear submarines (SSNs) that entered service from 1959 to 1961. This class was named after its lead boat, USS Skipjack. The new class introduced the teardrop hull and the S5W reactor to U.S. nuclear submarines. The Skipjacks were the fastest U.S. nuclear submarines until the Los Angeles-class submarines, the first of which entered service in 1974.

<i>Plunger</i>-class submarine United States Navy submarine class

The Plunger class was an early class of United States Navy submarines. In the first years of their service, they were used primarily as training and experimental vessels for the newly formed "silent service" to familiarize naval personnel with the performance and operations of such craft. They were known as the "A class" after being renamed to A-type designations on 17 November 1911. All except Plunger ended up being stationed in the Philippines, an American possession, prior to the outbreak of World War I. They were shipped there on colliers and formed an integral part of the harbor defense system for Manila. In some instances, this class of submarines is referred to as the Adder class, as USS Adder was the first boat of the class to be completed.

USS <i>Barbel</i> (SS-580) Submarine of the United States

USS Barbel (SS-580) was the lead ship of her class of submarines in the United States Navy. She was the second Navy ship named for the barbel, a cyprinoid fish, commonly called a minnow or carp.

<i>AA-1</i>-class submarine Class of three experimental submarines of the United States Navy,

The AA-1 class was a class of three experimental submarines of the United States Navy, built toward the end of World War I, between 1916 and 1920, intended to produce a high-speed fleet submarine. The design was not a success and the submarines saw only limited active service. However, the lessons learned were applied to the design of the later V-boats. The class was later renamed as the T-class.

<i>Barbel</i>-class submarine Last class of diesel-electric submarine operated by US Navy

The Barbel-class submarines, the last diesel-electric propelled attack submarines built by the United States Navy, incorporated numerous, radical engineering improvements over previous classes. They were the first production warships built with the teardrop-shape hull first tested on the experimental USS Albacore, and the first to combine the control room, attack center, and conning tower in the same space in the hull. They were of double hull design with 1.5-inch thick HY80 steel. This class of submarine became part of the United States Navy's fleet in 1959 and was taken out of service 1988–1990, leaving the Navy with an entirely nuclear-powered submarine fleet.

<i>Salmon</i>-class submarine US Navy submarine class of World War II

The United States Navy Salmon-class submarines were an important developmental step in the design of the "fleet submarine" concept during the 1930s. An incremental improvement over the previous Porpoise class, they were the first US submarine class to achieve 21 knots with a reliable propulsion plant, allowing them to operate with the Standard-type battleships of the surface fleet. Also, their 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) unrefueled range would allow them to operate in Japanese home waters. These rugged and dependable boats provided yeoman service during World War II, along with their immediate successors, the similar Sargo class. In some references, the Salmons and Sargos are called the "New S Class", 1st and 2nd Groups.

United States <i>Porpoise</i>-class submarine Class of US Navy submarine

The Porpoise class were submarines built for the United States Navy in the late 1930s, and incorporated a number of modern features that would make them the basis for the subsequent Salmon, Sargo, Tambor, Gato, Balao, and Tench classes. In some references, the Porpoises are called the "P" class.

United States S-class submarine Submarine class

The United States' S-class submarines, often simply called S-boats, were the first class of submarines with a significant number built to United States Navy designs. They made up the bulk of the USN submarine service in the interwar years and could be found in every theater of operations. While not considered fleet submarines, they were the first submarines in the USN designed for open ocean, blue water operations. All previous submarines had been intended for harbor or coastal defense. These boats were intended to have greater speed and range than previous classes, with improved habitability and greater armament.

United States R-class submarine United States Navy submarine class

The R-class submarines were a class of United States Navy coastal-defense submarines active from 1918 until 1945. With the first of the class laid down following the American entry into World War I, they were built rapidly. Although R-15 through R-20 were completed July–October 1918, they did not serve overseas, and the bulk of the class were not completed until after the Armistice. As had been the usual practice in several of the preceding classes, design and construction of the 27 boats of this class was split between the Electric Boat Company and the Lake Torpedo Boat Company. Both designs were built to the same military operational specifications, but differed considerably in design and detail specifics.

United States O-class submarine United States Navy submarine class

The United States Navy (USN)'s sixteen O-class coastal patrol submarines were built during World War I and served the USN from 1918 through the end of World War II.

United States F-class submarine United States Navy submarine class

The F-class submarines were a group of four submarines designed for the United States Navy by Electric Boat in 1909. F-1 and F-2 were built by Union Iron Works in San Francisco, while F-3 and F-4 were built by The Moran Company in Seattle, Washington.

United States B-class submarine United States Navy submarine class

The B-class submarines were three United States Navy submarines built by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts, under a subcontract from the Electric Boat Company. They were eventually stationed in the Philippines, an American possession, beginning in 1912–15. They were shipped there on colliers. All three were stricken and expended as targets 1919–22.

United States C-class submarine United States Navy submarine class

The C-class submarines were five United States Navy submarines built by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts, under a subcontract from the Electric Boat Company. Built between 1906 and 1909, and in commission from 1908 to 1919, all five were subsequently sold for scrap in 1920. They were considerably larger than the preceding B-class at 275 tons submerged vs. 173 tons submerged, and were the first United States submarines with two-shaft propulsion, doubling the machinery of the B class.

United States D-class submarine United States Navy submarine class

The United States D-class submarines were a trio of submarines built for the United States Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. All three ships served during World War I providing training for crews and officers on the U.S. East Coast, before the class was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1922.

The G-class submarines were a class of four United States Navy submarines. While the four G boats were nominally all of a class, they differed enough in significant details that they are sometimes considered to be four unique boats, each in a class by herself. They were the result of agitation for competition in submarine design; all previous US submarines were designed by Electric Boat. G-1, G-2, and G-3 were designed by Simon Lake of the Lake Torpedo Boat Company, while G-4 was designed by American Laurenti. G-1 and G-2 were built by Newport News, G-3 by Lake, and G-4 by Cramp.

United States H-class submarine United States Navy submarine class

The United States H-class submarines were Electric Boat design EB26A and EB26R design coastal patrol submarines used by the United States Navy.

United States K-class submarine United States Navy submarine class

The K-class submarines were a class of eight submarines of the United States Navy, serving between 1914 and 1923, including World War I. They were designed by Electric Boat and were built by other yards under subcontracts. K-1, K-2, K-5, and K-6 were built by Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, K-3, K-7, and K-8 by Union Iron Works in San Francisco, and K-4 by The Moran Company in Seattle, Washington. All were decommissioned in 1923 and scrapped in 1931 to comply with the limits of the London Naval Treaty.

United States L-class submarine United States Navy submarine class

The United States L-class submarines were a class of 11 coastal defense submarines built 1914–1917, and were the most modern and capable submarines available to United States Navy when the country entered World War I. Despite being considered a successful design by the USN, war experience in European waters demonstrated that the boats lacked the range, speed, and endurance to conduct extended patrols in the North Atlantic.

United States N-class submarine United States Navy submarine class

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

Notes

  1. 1 2 Gardiner, p. 127
  2. PigBoats.COM Submarine Specifications page
  3. Friedman, pp. 58
  4. Gardiner, p. 207
  5. PigBoats.COm E-class Notes section
  6. PigBoats.COM D-2 page.
  7. PigBoats.COM E-class page.
  8. Friedman, pp. 77, 81, 85
  9. PigBoats.COM General E-class photos page.
  10. Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-24 E-1 Skipjack". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  11. "E-1" . Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  12. "E-2" . Retrieved 19 January 2014.

Sources

Commons-logo.svg Media related to E class submarines of the United States at Wikimedia Commons