NAVYPEDIA

Photo

L10 1916

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
SS40	L1, 1917- AL1, 1918- L1	219	Fore River, Quincy	4.1914	20.1.1915	4.1916	sold 7.1922
SS41	L2, 1917- AL2, 1918- L2	220	Fore River, Quincy	3.1914	11.2.1915	9.1916	sold 11.1933
SS42	L3, 1917- AL3, 1918- L3	221	Fore River, Quincy	4.1914	15.3.1915	4.1916	sold 11.1933
SS43	L4, 1917- AL4, 1918- L4	222	Fore River, Quincy	3.1914	3.4.1915	5.1916	stricken 4.1922
SS44	L5		Lake, Bridgeport	5.1914	1.5.1916	2.1918	stricken 12.1922
SS45	L6	121	Craig SB, Long Beach	5.1914	31.8.1916	12.1917	stricken 11.1922
SS46	L7	122	Craig SB, Long Beach	6.1914	28.9.1916	12.1917	stricken 11.1922
SS48	L8		Portsmouth N Yd	2.1915	23.4.1917	8.1917	stricken 11.1922
SS49	L9, 1917- AL9, 1918- L9	227	Fore River, Quincy	11.1914	27.10.1915	8.1916	sold 11.1933
SS50	L10, 1917- AL10, 1918- L10	228	Fore River, Quincy	2.1915	16.3.1916	8.1916	stricken 5.1922
SS51	L11, 1917- AL11, 1918- L11	229	Fore River, Quincy	2.1915	16.5.1916	8.1916	stricken 12.1930

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	SS40 - 43, 49 - 51: 450 / 548 SS44 - 48: 456 / 524
Length, m	SS40 - 43, 49 - 51: 51.0 SS44 - 48: 50.3
Breadth, m	SS40 - 43, 49 - 51: 5.30 SS44 - 48: 4.50
Draught, m	SS40 - 43, 49 - 51: 4.10 SS44 - 48: 4.00
No of shafts	2
Machinery	SS40-43, 49-51: 2 NLSE diesels / 2 electric motors SS44-46, 48: 2 Busch-Sulzer diesels / 2 electric motors
Power, h. p.	1200 / 800
Max speed, kts	14 / 10.5
Fuel, t	diesel oil 55
Endurance, nm(kts)	3300(11) / 150(5)
Armament	SS40 - 43, 49 - 51: 4 - 450 TT (bow, 8) SS44 - 48: 1 x 1 - 76/23 Mk IX, 4 - 450 TT (bow, 8)
Complement	28
Diving depth operational, m	60

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

They were the first US submarines with deck guns. Their 76mm/23s retracted vertically into a deckhouse until only about half the barrel was extended, to reduce underwater drag.

Of the first four boats, three failed on their surface runs; two failed their submerged battery runs. All required extensive overhauls before they could be accepted.

Modernizations

1918, AL-1-4, 9-11: + SC sonar

Naval service

During 1917-18, L1-4 and L9-11 were stationed at Bantry Bay, Ireland. British waters they wore 'AL' numbers on the conning tower to distinguish them from the British 'L' class.