S48 1921
| No | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm | Fate |
| SS159 (ex-SS169) | S48 | Lake, Bridgeport | 10/1920 | 26/2/1921 | 10/1922 | stricken 9/1945 |
| SS160 (ex-SS170) | S49 | Lake, Bridgeport | 10/1920 | 23/4/1921 | 6/1922 | stricken 3/1931 |
| SS161 (ex-SS171) | S50 | Lake, Bridgeport | 3/1920 | 18/6/1921 | 5/1922 | stricken 3/1931 |
| SS162 (ex-SS172) | S51 | Lake, Bridgeport | 12/1919 | 20/8/1921 | 6/1922 | collision 25/9/1925 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
|
|
Displacement normal, t |
903 / 1230 |
|
Length, m |
73.2 |
|
Breadth, m |
6.60 |
|
Draught, m |
4.10 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 Bush-Sulzer diesels / 2 electric motors |
|
Power, h. p. |
1800 / 1500 |
|
Max speed, kts |
14.5 / 11 |
|
Fuel, t |
diesel oil 177 |
| Endurance, nm (kts) | 8000 (10) / |
|
Armament |
5 - 533 TT (4 bow, 1 stern, 14), 1 x 1 - 102/50 Mk 9 |
|
Complement |
38 |
|
Diving depth operational, m |
60 |
Ship project history: The further development of R class submarines. They were built under three notably differed among themselves detailed projects developed by Holland, Lake and Bureau of construction. After the statement of these projects by General board in 1917 one submarine was built under each of them as "prototype" (S1, 2 and 3 respectively). Lake variant (S2) has appeared unsuccessful, and later Lake built submarines under Bureau design.
Under two other projects serial building was developed: 24 submarines (S18-41) by Holland and 14 (S4-17) by Bureau. They were followed by 10 almost same boats of the second series (S42-47 by Holland and S48-51 by Bureau).
The basic difference between Holland and Bureau projects consisted in a hull construction: in the first case it was fulfilled single-hulled, in second double-hulled. The diving depth was identical: 60m. Submarines built by Lake Torpedo Boat, had additional stern TT. As when these submarines were created in the USA dominated an opinion about necessity of providing of the highest submerged speed, CT on them were fulfilled as much as possible streamlined. On trials "prototypes" demonstrated outstanding results, having developed speed submerged from 12.5 to 13kts. First World War experience, however, has shown, that superfluous 2-3kts are not so necessary in comparison with safety of crew, therefore already during completion "serial" submarines received less streamline, but much more convenient CTs.
Though S class submarines notably exceeded the predecessors on the majority of characteristics, naval management in 1925 recognized them as unsuccessful because of insufficient for service on Pacific endurance. Nevertheless, to the middle of 1930th they made a basis of USN submarine forces.
Modernizations: 1939, S48: + 1 x 1 - 12.7/90.
Naval service: S51 was rammed by s/s City of Rome off Block Island (New York) 25/9/1925.
S48 1924
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10