In this photo only a number of things are known for certain the rest can only be speculated on. The USS Viper (B-1) was commissioned October 18, 1907 with Lieutenant Donald Cameron Bingham in command. On November 17, 1911 her name was changed from Viper to B-1. The submarine has the name Viper clearly painted on the hull. From the pigstick atop her periscope is the vessels Commissioning Pennant along with another flag, probably a squadron flag. These are the time frames that bracket this photo. To narrow it down still further, it is winter and cold enough to have the river or bay awash with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of chunks of ice covering its surface.

So we can also assume it is either winter 1907/08, (winter 1908/09 she has been placed in reserve and out of commission at Charleston). Recommissioned April 15, 1910, winter 1909/10 and winter 1910/11 are also time frames this image could have been snapped.

Submarine historian David Johnston thinks that the photo was taken at or near the Brooklyn (New York) Navy Yard just prior to a dry dock period that all three B-boats had in January, 1908. If it was after dry docking the waterline would appear cleaner and crisper.

The submarine has much of the look of the paint jobs given to the vessels around the time of their commissioning with darker colors, (black), and a light, (white), boot-top. On the foremast are the submarines red and green running lights attached to their reflector boards. These boards are to limit the direction that the lights can be seen from. Above them, is the anchor light higher on the mast. This is a white light and used when at anchor to note it position to other vessels. All these lights and the mast, are portable and are removed and sent below when the submarine is going to dive. Stanchions and a lifeline surround the small walking deck that submarine inventor John Holland so detested, ("...for officers to strut on...", he said). These, too, were sent below when diving.

The Viper is moored to a high pier, that is evident by the boarding plank stretched between the pier and the top of the bridge access fairwater. A civilian is standing midspan talking with an officer, (Captain Bingham?), about something. The civilian looks to be carrying a briefcase of some sort in his left hand. The officer is gesturing towards the camera and down about something, maybe in the water. The officer is wearing a wool Naval Academy Great Coat and white, (wool?), gloves. Seen just behind the officers legs is the tall Engine Room ventilator.

The top of the bridge is surrounded by weather cloths to protect the crew, (duty officer and helmsman), from spray and wind. Just forward of these cloths is ventilator used to bring or exhaust air from inside the submarine. Its opening is pointing to the subs port side. These, along with all the above mentioned items, are also sent below before diving. Pressure of moving though the water would restrict the vessels movements, reduce its speed and probably destroy canvases.

There appears to be a fairly stiff wind blowing by the looks of all the flags and that wind seems to be coming from the subs after port quarter. The flag is a thirteen star Naval Ensign. As related by flag historian Jeff Bridgman..."It wasn't until 1916, however, that President Woodrow Wilson wrote an executive order that terminated their use entirely in favor of 48 star flags. But even this did not completely put an end to it. According to at least one flag historian, Wilson's order was not immediately accepted on all navy ships. Old habits die hard..." The flag being flown seems to be of an older design that was flown between 1890 and 1900 with the rows of 3 stars with points pointing up and the rows with two stars with the points pointing down.

The wind chill factor must make the temperatures must feel like they are in the upper 20's down into the teens or lower.

In the left background, under the gangway and just sticking out from behind the floating shack, is the bow of another "B" class submarine. Draft makings like the ones on the bow of the Viper resemble each other. Its periscope can be seen sticking up at the left edge of the shack with a pennant flying from its top. Identity unknown at this time. Thanks to submarine historian David Johnston for pointing out this important piece of information for us.

We have another clue but the identity of that clue is unknown, at this point, that is the sleek steam yacht, with its raked masts and funnel, seen in the background. If we knew what vessel this was and where it was at we could pin down the year/s and location with more certainty.

Further evidence is the presence of the large 100 ton derrick seen over the top everything at the right side in the background of the photo that resided at the New York Navy Yard and is in evidence in other photos taken at this location and time period.

(Newspaper) THE PATERSON MORNING CALL, TUESDAY; OCTOBER 26, 1909

"Philadelphia, Oct. 25 . ~ The United States submarine Viper is aground inside Cape Henlopen, near the Delaware Breakwater. The boat is reported to be resting easy, but her position is dangerous and there are fears for her safety.

"The life saving crew from Lewes, Del., is standing by and making every effort to drag the vessel off the shoal."

Thus reads the newspaper story about this incident shown in the photo above.

The image shows the Viper, later to be renamed B-1, laying aground with the submarine tender USS Castine and the Delaware Breakwater behind her. Cape Henlopen is at the mouth of the Delaware River and just across from Cape May, New Jersey where the Navy use to have a submarine base.

The day before, October 23, 1909, the Castine, the Tarantula, the Viper and the Plunger had left from Tompkinsville on Staten Island, NY for Charleston, SC.

As best as can be deduced from the newspaper accounts is the submarines Viper and the Cuttlefish and Plunger and their tender, USS Castine, had come to anchor for the night in the shelter of Cape Henlopen and the Delaware Breakwater. During the night Vipers' anchor had dragged and the submarine had gone aground. The Cape is actually off camera to the right.

Just above the after deck of the USS Castine, behind the submarine, can be seen the breakwater's "East End Lighthouse". To the left and aft of the Castine is the rest of the breakwater, as it was built in 1909, and can be seen with the breakwater's "West End Lighthouse" in place. Today the breakwater has been extended and this lighthouse is gone. The ship on the right is not identified.

Only the year before, February 19, 1908, the Viper had run aground in a snow storm off Thomas Point south of Annapolis, Maryland at the mouth of the South River. Her tender, the converted yacht Hist, was also aground, in the same snow storm, near Cove Point, Chesapeake Bay some miles to the south. Both vessels were stranded by lower tides than the day before when they grounded. Hist was escorting a number of submarines, Viper being one of them. Viper proceeded ahead, perhaps to get help, and the remaining submarines, the Cuttlefish and Tarantula, stayed by the Hist.

USS Hector (Collier No.7). This photo is taken mid April 1915 in Cavite Harbor, Philippines. The Hector had left the US in March 1915 with the submarine boats USS A-3, (center); USS A-5, (front) and the USS B-1, (rear) as deck cargo for transport to the Philippines since the craft were too small to make the trip on their own. Note that the B-1 has both its periscopes still installed where the "A" boats had been removed for transit.

In preparation for the trip the batteries had been removed as well as the propellers and the stern planes; all to lighten the weight of these vessels for transport as deck cargo.

Photo taken from on deck of the USS Hector showing the final preparations for the launching of the USS B-1. Date is April 15, 1915.

In this photo it is quite clear that this larger vessel needed three launch ramps compared to the two used by the smaller "A" boats. These smaller submarines have already been launched as the deck to the left in the photo is empty.

Several other things to notice are the lack of rudders, stern planes and the propeller. All items removed to make the submarine lighter to transport and also to prevent damage to them during the launch which consisted of literally throwing them off the ship into the water.

April 15, 1915, USS B-1 goes over the side with a large crowd of Navy and Filipinos watching. The ramps have been tipped up and the little submarine becomes airborne, probably one of the few times a submarine will ever "fly".