NAVYPEDIA

Photo

S27

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
SS105	S1	296	Fore River, Quincy	12/1917	26.10.1918	6.1920	to United Kingdom 4.1942 (P552)
SS123	S18	309	Bethlehem, Quincy	8/1918	29.4.1920	4/1924	stricken 11.1945
SS124	S19	310	Bethlehem, Quincy	8.1918	21.6.1920	8.1921	stricken 12.1938
SS125	S20	311	Bethlehem, Quincy	8/1918	9.6.1920	11/1922	stricken 7.1945
SS126	S21	312	Bethlehem, Quincy	12/1918	18.8.1920	8.1921	to United Kingdom 9.1942-7/1944 (P553), sunk as target 23.3.1945
SS127	S22	313	Bethlehem, Quincy	1/1919	15.7.1920	6.1924	to United Kingdom 6.1942-7/1944 (P554), stricken 8.1945
SS128	S23	314	Bethlehem, Quincy	1/1919	27.10.1920	10.1923	stricken 11.1945
SS129	S24	315	Bethlehem, Quincy	11/1918	27.6.1922	8.1923	to United Kingdom 8.1942-1944 (P555), sunk as target 25.8.1947
SS130	S25	316	Bethlehem, Quincy	10/1918	29.5.1922	7.1923	to United Kingdom 11.1941 (P551)
SS131	S26	317	Bethlehem, Quincy	11/1919	22.8.1922	10.1923	collision 24.1.1942
SS132	S27	318	Bethlehem, Quincy	4/1919	18.10.1922	1.1924	wrecked 19.6.1942
SS133	S28	319	Bethlehem, Quincy	4/1919	20.9.1922	12.1923	foundered 4.7.1944
SS134	S29	320	Bethlehem, Quincy	4/1919	9.11.1922	5.1924	to United Kingdom 6.1942-1/1946 (P556), stricken 1.1946
SS135	S30	201	Union Iron Wks, San Francisco	4/1918	21.11.1918	10.1920	stricken 10.1945
SS136	S31	202	Union Iron Wks, San Francisco	4/1918	28.12.1918	5.1922	stricken 11.1945
SS137	S32	203	Union Iron Wks, San Francisco	4/1918	11.1.1919	6.1922	stricken 11.1945
SS138	S33	204	Union Iron Wks, San Francisco	6/1918	5.12.1918	4.1922	stricken 11.1945
SS139	S34	205	Union Iron Wks, San Francisco	5/1918	13.2.1919	7.1922	stricken 11.1945
SS140	S35	206	Union Iron Wks, San Francisco	6/1918	27.2.1919	8.1922	sunk as target 4.4.1946
SS141	S36	207	Union Iron Wks, San Francisco	12/1918	3.6.1919	4.1923	scuttled 21.1.1942
SS142	S37	208	Union Iron Wks, San Francisco	12/1918	20.6.1919	7.1923	sunk as target 20.2.1945
SS143	S38	209	Union Iron Wks, San Francisco	1/1919	17.6.1919	5.1923	stricken 1.1945
SS144	S39	210	Union Iron Wks, San Francisco	1/1919	2.7.1919	9.1923	wrecked 14.8.1942
SS145	S40	211	Bethlehem, San Francisco	3/1919	5.1.1921	11.1923	stricken 11.1945
SS146	S41	212	Bethlehem, San Francisco	4/1919	21.2.1921	1.1924	stricken 2.1946

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	854 / 1062
Length, m	66.9
Breadth, m	6.30
Draught, m	4.80
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 NLSE diesels / 2 electric motors
Power, h. p.	1200 / 1500
Max speed, kts	14 / 11
Fuel, t	diesel oil 168
Endurance, nm(kts)	3420 (6.5) /
Armament	1 x 1 - 102/50 Mk IX, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 12)
Electronic equipment	SC sonar
Complement	38
Diving depth operational, m	60

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

The further development of R class submarines. They were built under three notably differed designs developed by Holland, Lake and Bureau of construction. After the acquisition of these designs by General board in 1917 one submarine was built under each of them as "prototype" (S1, 2 and 3 respectively). Lake variant (S2) appeared unsuccessful, and later Lake built submarines under Bureau design.

Serial building was developed under two designs: 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 designs consisted in a hull construction: in the first case it was fulfilled single-hulled, in second double-hulled. The diving depth was identical. Submarines built by Lake Torpedo Boat, had additional stern TT. As when these submarines were designed, an opinion about necessity of providing of the highest submerged speed was dominated, CT on them were fulfilled as much as possible streamlined. On trials "prototypes" demonstrated outstanding results, achieved 12.5 to 13kts submerged. 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 streamlined, but much more convenient CTs.

Though 'S' class submarines notably exceeded the predecessors on the majority of characteristics, naval authorities in 1925 recognized them as unsuccessful because of insufficient endurance for Pacific service.

Modernizations

1939, all survived: + 1 x 1 - 12.7/90, JK sonar

1940s, most survived: - SC sonar; + 1 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, SJ radar, QB sonar

1940s, S27, S28: - SC sonar; + 1 x 1 - 2070 Mk 4, SJ radar, QC sonar

1.1946, SS129, 134, 140, 146: 4 - 533 TT (bow, 12), 1 x 1 - 102/50 Mk 12, 1 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 1 x 1 - 12.7/90, SJ radar, QB or QC, JK sonars

Naval service

S26 collided with PC460, S27 was scuttled by own crew after wrecking off Amchitka island, S36 was scuttled by own crew after wrecking near Celebes, S39 was abandoned after wrecking off Russell island. S28 foundered while training.

S36 20.1.1942 was badly damaged at beaching at Celebes and scuttled by own crew next day. S26 24.1.1942 was lost in Gulf of Panama area at collision with РС460. S27 19.6.1942 ran aground at St. Makarius point (Amchitka island) and abandoned by crew. S39 14.8.1942 ran aground at Rossell island and abandoned 16.8.1942. S28 4.7.1944 foundered off Pearl Harbour during training diving.

S18 26.8.1944 was damaged off San Diego at collision with LSM135.