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The L -Boats
USS L-1, USS L-3, USS L-4
USS L-1 SS 40, USS L-3 SS 42, USS L-4 SS 43
USS L-3, USS L-11, USS L-10, USS L-4, USS L-9, USS L-2

Left to right submarines tied up next to a tender in Queenstown, Ireland. USS L-3 SS 41, USS L-11 SS 51 with bow planes rigged out, USS L-10 SS 50, USS L-4 SS 43, USS L-9 SS 49, USS L-2 SS 41.

USS L-3, USS L-11, USS L-10, USS L-4, USS L-9

Left to right, submarines at Queenstown, Bantry Bay, Ireland. USS L-3 SS 42, USS L-11 SS 51, USS L-10 SS 50, USS L-4 SS 43, USS L-9 SS 49 which seems to be running her diesel. You can see the smoke from her exhaust around her stern.



After the boats arrived in the war zone in Ireland, the USN found that the British Royal Navy was also operating submarines in the area that were coincidentally called the L-class. Wanting to avoid problems in visually identifying the two classes of similarly named boats, the USN added the letter “A” to the side of the conning tower fairwater to the left of the letter “L”. This gave all friendly navies in the area the ability to quickly distinguish between the two classes. Contrary to popular belief, the boats WERE NOT officially renamed AL-3, AL-10, etc. on the Navy List or in any official Navy documents. They retained their original names and hull numbers for the duration of their service lives. The A’s were added when they arrived in the war zone and removed shortly after the conclusion of the war and the boat’s return to the states. It was a temporary simple visual expedient and nothing more.

British L-6
British L-6, the reason why the American "L" boats had the "A" added to their name.
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We have here two unidentified L Class submarines. The unique shape of the bow planes pivot housings and the unique shaped “bullnose” on the stem head are identifiers to this class. The two flat rectangular covers, one on top of the other over the bow planes pivots can be seen. This cover was unique to the USS L-1, L-2, L-3 and L-4 and then again with the USS L-9, L-10 and the L-11. (Submarines L-5 thru L-8 were built to different designs and did not have these pivot covers.) This variant of the “L” class of submarine were commissioned by late 1916. The L-6 thru L-8 variant were commissioned in 1917. L-5 was commissioned in 1918.

Both submarines have a tall forward radio mast. In looking in other archives we have seen only the L-1 with such a mast. So, possibly one of these two vessels could be the L-1 but it could just be coincidence that there only exists one image, other than this one, with these masts. Radio was new and trials were being made all the time.

Neither submarine have any sign of having “C” or “J” tube listening gear installed at this point. So, a possible date is closer to commissioning, perhaps a late 1916 early 1917 time frame to date the photo. But still before the US entered WW I on April 6, 1917. The submarines still are using the old fashioned pre-war canvas bridge shelters that proved too flimsy to withstand the pressures of diving with it erected. They were too time consuming to try and take down in actual war time conditions.

The British, having been at war with Germany for two years, taught their American cousins a lot of practical things about actual submarine warfare including the development and use of the metal chariot bridge surround that could remain in place while diving and withstand those pressures. Soon almost all US submarines had this revision installed.

Once these subs reached Europe, the British, to avoid confusing their “L” class submarines with the American “L” class subs required the American subs to paint an “A” in front of their numbers. All combatants still wore hull identification at this time. In later conflicts all ID was painted out so an enemy could not keep track of sub movements, this is even done to this day.

These two submarines are moored to a Monitor class tender that is also not identified but could possibly be the USS Tonopah. Three sailors are standing on the tenders deck. There also seem to be at least two people each on the submarines’ decks as well.


Photo In The Private Collection Of Ric Hedman
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L Class and H Class submarines at the piers in San Pedro, Calif. in April 1919. The only H-Boat that can be identified is the H-8 seen between the conning towers of the L-7 and L-8.

H-Boats stationed in San Pedro in 1919 were the H-3, which was the Flagship of SubDiv 7. Submarines H-4 thru H-9 were all stationed at San Pedro at this time.

Of the L-Boats seen here only the L-8 never saw service in the Azores and Bantry Bay. She was enroute and in Bermuda when the war ended and she returned to the United States.


Photo Contributed By Patricia Lynn
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"This photo (actually a post card) shows four L-class submarines alongside the submarine tenders Alert (AS-4) and Beaver (AS-5) at Naval Station Coco Solo, C.Z. on 24 December 1918.

"These boats were the Simon Lake designed variant of the L-class, distinguishable from their Electric Boat design sisters by the raised bows, large conning tower fairwaters, and the round flood ports for the watertight superstructure along their sides.

"Which boats are which are not known, but L-5, L-6, L-7, and L-8 were all sent to the Pacific immediately at the end of WWI and were homeported at San Pedro (Los Angeles) CA. They were known to have passed through the canal at Christmas time 1918 during their long journey to San Pedro and would have stopped in Coco Solo on the Atlantic side of the canal for a fueling and repair stop. The Alert is the darker colored ship closest to the submarines. The Beaver is the ship further away, with the “dazzle” camouflage paint scheme.

"There is a hand written date of August 1919 on the back of the photo. In a separate hand there is a notation that says; "L boats and USS Lert after landing day before Xmas in Coco Solo C.Z." Meaning that this was the day they arrived in Coco Solo. The date of August 1919 [on the back of the card] is most likely the date that the post card was purchased. [Or former presumed date of the photo]. The boats had arrived in San Pedro in February, so the August date could not have been the date the photo was taken." David Johnston, Submarine Historian.


Photo from David Wright, Navsource, Destroyer Archives Manager, Yard & District Archives Manager
USS L-1
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USS L-1 riding at anchor while on sea trials, circa 1916, probably off Provencetown, Mass. Just at background sea level a low land mass with houses can be seen such as seen at Cape Cod. The L class were the first US submarine designed to carry a 3"/23 caliber deck gun but it wasn't until the L-9 that guns were installed during construction. The L-1 through L-8 were retrofitted later with the gun. As you can see the L-1 has no gun. The USS M-1 actually had the first deck mounted gun on a US submarine. The two dynamite guns carried by the USS Holland were not deck mounted but built into the pressure hull.


Photo from the Library of Congress Collection
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Bridge, Conning Tower close up of the USS L-1 while on seatrials. Four crew can be seen in this detail. Interesting, in this image, is the shading given to the the hull number painted on the fairwater. It appears to be shaded to make it stand out more. It is probably impossible to know what color was used for this effect but one possibility, besides a tone of gray, would be red.


Photo from the Library of Congress Collection
USS L-1
USS L-1 SS 40. I count 26 of the 28 crew up on deck in this picture.
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USS L-1 in dry dock, Norfolk, Va, circa 1920.
Crewmember standing on port stern plane.
Note ropes over the top of the skeg holding scaffolding in place.

From the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
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The USS L-1 at Baltimore, Maryland circa 1919. The information on the back of the photo says she is there for "Recruiting Duty". The note also calls her the "Fighting Boat". She is still proudly wearing her European Theater of Operations "AL" designation. The British also had their own "L" class submarines and the "A" was added to identify the American subs from the British. Suspended from a rod in the bridge are several pieces of clothing that have been set out to dry.

There are a number of interesting things going on in this photo. On the right, just above the bow, there is a grouping of three people, two of which are Navy sailors in their blue uniforms. It is unknown if they belong to the L-1. There is a Great Northern freight car sitting at the pier head. Just forward of the conning tower is another group of people two of which are sailors belonging to the submarine. They are in their working uniforms. The 3"/23 caliber deck gun is is in its raised position and turned with its barrel pointing aft, this is to get it out of the way of the gangplank to the quayside.

Seen on the buildings in the background are a number of business signs. At the right, second building from the right, the sign say either "Mr Bell" or "Dr Bell". The last word can not be read. The fourth building, written between the second and third floor windows, it says "Geo T Williams Jr Store" This is preceded by three smaller words that can not be made out.

The building on the corner of the intersection has a large free standing sign with the possibly of electric lighting on its roof. It has a large image of a flying American Flag and under this are the words. "Hotel & Cafe", possibly meaning it is the "American" Hotel & Cafe or the "Flag" Hotel & Cafe. If there are any Baltimore historians out there they can maybe fill some of these details.

On the street there is an interesting mix of automobiles and horse drawn wagons. In the center of the street, what appears to be a freight wagon full of tied bags, is driven by a man who appears to be a black man.

Parked next the curb is another freight wagon that looks to be attached to a caisson that in-turn seems to be attached to another part that seems to have a drivers seat and tongue for horses to be hitched to.

A Model T Roadster is parked on the camera side of the horse drawn freight wagon. Seen just above this freight wagon there is a passenger wagon drawn by a single white horse. This may be a private "Family Car" or maybe a "Taxi".

Parked in front of the Hotel is a Model T Sedan.

There are a variety of people around the submarine but it doesn't seem to be drawing a crowd. This may mean that the sub has been moored to this location for a while and the novelty is wearing off.


From the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
USS L-2
USS L-2

USS L-2 SS 41 In July of 1918 while patrolling in the Irish Sea a large explosion rocked the L-2 about 25 feet on her beam. A periscope was sighted and the L-2 submerged and tried to ram the submarine but couldn't track the U-boat well under water, plus the U-boat had superior under water speed. Later it was suspected that a U-boat had fired on the L-2 but another U-boat, the U-65, was in the way and was badly damaged and sank. Some time later when the L-2 was dry docked her hull plating was noted to be heavily dented from the close by explosion. The U-65 never returned to her port.


US Navy Photo

L & K Boats
An unidentified "K" boat and the K-3 moored next to the L-11, L-2, L-3 & L-9 at Hampton Roads, VA circa 1930.
From the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
USS L-3
USS L-3
USS L-3 SS 42
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USS L-3 seen here on July 18, 1917 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard undergoing a pre-deployment up-keep. The US entered WW I on April 6, 1917 and submarines were to be deployed to the Azores and Ireland to patrol the waters and deny access and free reign to the German U-Boats. The L-3 was to leave New London in company with other L class submarines, first to the Azores and then on to Bantry Bay on the Irish west coast. The submarines made 8 to 10 day deployments which was an unheard of amount of time for US subs at that time. In the background can be seen the USS K-5 with the number 37 painted on her conning tower fairwater. There are at least four more submarines in the photo but can not be identified. A vintage motorcycle is parked on the pier.


US Navy Photo
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USS L-3 seen here on August 24, 1918 at Bantry Bay, Ireland after an 8 day war patrol. The inscription says;
"...I just came in from an eight day patrol. The Captain had sent me after the mail so I was out of luck for getting my dirty face in it. Cecile Chart Aug 24...
The L-3 departed the US for the Azores via Bermuda on November 27, 1917 and arrived at Ponta Delgada on January 13, 1918. She sailed one month later for Berehaven, Bantry Bay Ireland and remained in British waters until January 3, 1919 when she sailed for Philadelphia from Portland, England where she had been dry docked and had her bottom scraped and painted and other work done. She arrived in US waters on February 1, 1919.

The man on the far right has his foot up on a lifeline stanchion. Under the bend of his leg can be seen the barrel of the 3"/23 caliber deckgun. This gun retracted into the deck with the barrel pointing straight up.


Original Photo in the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
USS L-4
USS L-4 SS 43
USS L-4 SS 43

The L-4 spotted a German U-boat on the surface charging batteries and lying motionless. The Capt., LCdr Lewis Hancock, jr., fired a torpedo at the submarine. The Germans saw the torpedo and quickly sped forward and dove evading the torpedo. The L-4 later had almost the same situation and the same result the torpedo missed. The Mark X (10) torpedo was known to be touchy. If bumped hard the gyro would malfunction.


Original Photo in the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
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This photo may or may have not caught our eye except for the unusual bit of “machinery” shown at the right side of the image. The back of the photo explains it all, almost.

The attractive young woman is unknown but she has taken the time to note on the back of the photo that it was taken aboard the USS L-4 and the vessel had spent four days “...in the dock here...” that has implications of dry docking. We are making the assumption was in the United States after her return from WW I duty sailing out of Berehaven, Ireland making war patrols.

United States “L” class submarine had to paint the letter “A” in front of their L number to avoid confusion with like named British “L” class submarines in service at the same time.

It is possible the photo was taken in England as the L-4 and other US submarines went to Portland, England and were dry docked before making the return trip to the US. She arrived at Philadelphia, Penn. on February 1, 1919.

The young woman has placed her left hand on the top of the 3”/23 caliber deck gun of the submarine. The curved disk is the guns’ splinter shield and the gun as a whole, when not in use, would rotate to a vertical position and retract into the superstructure into the guns water proof housing. The curved splinter shield would mate with the housings top edge making the breech water tight. Little else is seen of the submarine.

There seems to be another person in a crouch position behind the woman to her photo left. It appears to be a man. There are quite a number of people on the pier seen in the upper right of the photo.


Original Photo in the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
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The back of the photo states:”This isn’t good but historical. Taken on the Submarine AL-4. It was in actual service.
It was here in the dock here four days.”

"...in the dock..." has implications that the submarine was in a dry dock. Though she had been dry docked in Portland, England after the war she may have had a docking after her return to the US. The background does not look like any photos taken in Portland we have seen. She arrived at Philadelphia on February 1, 1919. This photo was no doubt taken some time after then.


Original Photo in the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
USS L-5
USS L-5 on the ways
USS L-5 SS 44 on the building ways, Lake Torpedo Boat Co.
On the fore deck looking aft to the conning tower and bridge helm station.
April 30, 1916
Photo courtesy of The US Navy Submarine Force Museum
USS L-5 on the ways
USS L-5 SS 44 on the building ways, Lake Torpedo Boat Co.
On the fore deck looking aft to the conning tower and bridge helm station.
April 30, 1916
Photo courtesy of The US Navy Submarine Force Museum
USS L-5 on the ways
USS L-5 SS 44 on the building ways, Lake Torpedo Boat Co.
Starboard Bow showing the bow planes and torpedo tube shutter doors.
April 30, 1916
Photo courtesy of The US Navy Submarine Force Museum
USS L-5 on the ways
USS L-5 SS 44 on the building ways, Lake Torpedo Boat Co.
Starboard Bow showing the torpedo tube shutter doors for tubes #1 and #3.
April 30, 1916
Photo courtesy of The US Navy Submarine Force Museum
USS L-5 on the ways
USS L-5 SS 44 on the building ways, Lake Torpedo Boat Co.
Starboard bow planes. Above is one of the round free flood scuppers.
These could be locked shut to add surface buoyancy.
April 30, 1916
Photo courtesy of The US Navy Submarine Force Museum
USS L-5 on the ways
USS L-5 SS 44 on the building ways, Lake Torpedo Boat Co.
Starboard stern view.
April 30, 1916
Photo courtesy of The US Navy Submarine Force Museum
USS L-5 on the ways
USS L-5 SS 44 on the building ways, Lake Torpedo Boat Co.
Close-up of the starboard screw and rudder.
April 30, 1916
Photo courtesy of The US Navy Submarine Force Museum
USS L-5
USS L-5 SS 44.
Battery cell being lowered into the newly constructed L-5.
The location is the Lake Torpedo Boat Company in Bridgeport CT.
Photo courtesy of The US Navy Submarine Force Museum
USS L-5
USS L-5 SS 44.
Battery cell being lowered into the newly constructed L-5.
The location is the Lake Torpedo Boat Company in Bridgeport CT.
Photo courtesy of The US Navy Submarine Force Museum
USS L-5
USS L-5 SS 44.
Conning Tower / bridge detail the newly constructed L-5.
The bridge steering station is shown as are the rectangular view ports in the bridge access.
Photo courtesy of The US Navy Submarine Force Museum
USS L-5
USS L-5 SS 44.
The USS L-5 apears to be tieing up to either a dock or tender.
The year is 1918 and from the looks on the clothing the men are wearing it could be summer time.
USS L-5
Close up of the USS L-5 SS crew.
The USS L-5 appears to be tyeing up to either a dock or tender.
The year is 1918 and from the looks on the clothing the men are wearing it could be summer time.
USS L-5
Close up of the USS L-5 SS crew on bow.
The USS L-5 appears to be tyeing up to either a dock or tender.
The man on the right is holding a "heevy" ready for tossing.
One half of the heevy is in each of his hands.
USS L-6
USS L-6
USS L-6 SS 45. The USS L-5 was very much like the L-6
USS L-6
USS L-6 SS 45
USS L-6 making a dive
USS L-6 SS 45 making a dive circa; 1918
Photo courtesy of Mike Dilley son of Homer "Pat" Dilley, WW I sub vet.
USS L-6 making a dive
USS L-6 SS 45 at periscope depth making a good speed run as she goes down.
Photo courtesy of Mike Dilley son of Homer "Pat" Dilley, WW I sub vet.
USS L-6
USS L-6 SS 45 continuing to dive. Water can be seen spilling into the chariot bridge.
Photo courtesy of Mike Dilley son of Homer "Pat" Dilley, WW I sub vet.
USS L-6
USS L-6 SS 45 still diving. Periscope shears are just about submerged.
Photo courtesy of Mike Dilley son of Homer "Pat" Dilley, WW I sub vet.
USS L-6
USS L-6 SS 45 at periscope depth.
Photo courtesy of Mike Dilley son of Homer "Pat" Dilley, WW I sub vet.
USS L-6
USS L-6 SS 45 stopped and coming to the surface.
Photo courtesy of Mike Dilley son of Homer "Pat" Dilley, WW I sub vet.
USS L-6
USS L-6 SS 45 back on the surface. Water can be seen draining from the super structure.
Photo courtesy of Mike Dilley son of Homer "Pat" Dilley, WW I sub vet.
USS L-6 and an unknown submarine
USS L-6 ( on left ) and an unknown submarine, possibly an H-class boat.
USS L-7
USS L-7
USS L-7 SS 46 with a crew of 36 officers and men
USS L-8
Launching of the USS L-8
Launching of the USS L-8
L-8
The USS L-8 in dry dock most likely circa 1917 in preparation to head to war in the Bantry Bay, Ireland, area of operations. Note the Lake design triple set of depth control planes on the side of the hull. They are curved to form to the side of the hull when not in use. Lake was a believer in the flat controlled dive principle versus Holland's angled dive. The Holland method was the one that eventually proved the more successful.
US Navy Photo
USS L-8 from the deck of the USS Whittemore
USS L-8 SS 48 from the deck of the USS Whittemore mother ship.
Photo contributed by Clifford Chapski, his grandfather, Alfred G. Benjamin, took this photo while serving aboard the Whittemore


The submarine L-8, designed by the Lake Torpedo Boat Company, was part of a secret project in 1918 by the U.S. Navy in WW I to trap German submarines. Along with the 4 masted schooner USS Charles Whittemore as a mother ship and decoy the pair roamed the Atlantic trying to lure German submarines to attack. The object was to use the L-8 to sink the German submarines.
The Whittemore towed the L-8 submerged so the submarine wouldn't be seen by the enemy and that the two wouldn't become separated from each other. The Whittemore carried food and fuel and torpedoes to resupply the L-8 as needed.
As it turned out by the time the Whittemore and L-8 arrived on station, all sides were using armed merchant men as decoys so the Germans and other ships would avoid any contact with the duo.
The war ended while the Whittemore and L-8 were on patrol with out firing a shot.
The L-8 ended its' life as a target off Newport, RI in 1926. She was the only ship blown up using the new top secret magnetic exploder. The Navy wouldn't allow any more tests using it due to budget constraints. This proved fatal folly early in WW II.
USS L-8 from the deck of the USS Whittemore
USS L-8 from the deck of the USS Whittemore.
Photo contributed by Clifford Chapski, his grandfather, Alfred G. Benjamin, took this photo while serving aboard the Whittemore
USS Charles Whittemore
USS Charles Whittemore, mother ship and decoy for USS L-8 on WW I war patrols.
Photo contributed by Clifford Chapski, his grandfather, Alfred G. Benjamin,  served aboard the Whittemore
USS L-8 under construction
USS L-8 under construction at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard circa 1917.
Torpedo tubes USS L-8
Torpedo tubes USS L-8.
The 4 torpedo tube doors of the 18" torpedo tubes aboard the L-8.
The hand written inscription across the front of this picture says; "Interior view of Torpedo Tubes USS L-8"
USS L-8 Control Room
USS L-8 Control Room. The writing on the front of the picture say:
"Center Compartment USS L-8"
Close up of USS L-8 Diving station
Close up of USS L-8 Diving Station. Ladder to the bridge on left.
First torpedo shot passes under the USS L-8
"A MISS (26 May 1926) A torpedo equipped with a magnetic influence exploder passing under submarine hulk, L-8, in tests conducted off Newport R.I."

This was first of only two tests of the magnetic influence exploder for warheads used on the Mk 14 Torpedo used in WW II. The result was the faulty design wasn't cured until WW II was well underway.

Second torpedo shot sinks the USS L-8
"A HIT (26 May 1926) Submarine hulk, L-8, being sunk off Newport R.I. by a torpedo equipped with a live warhead and magnetic influence exploder.
This was the only destructive test ever conducted during nineteen years of pre-WW II exploder development."

USS L-9
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This is purported to be the USS L-9. The only information we have about the identification is this is definitely an "L" class submarine. There is a pencil note on the back of the photo identifying this as the L-9 but this is not a positive Identification.

The evidence of the towing bridle on the bow may mean that this photo was taken on January 17, 1918 when she left Norfolk Virginia en-tow by the Submarine Tender USS Bushnell AS-2, to Ireland. En-route the convoy of ships tugs and submarines ran into a hurricane and became scattered. most regrouped at Bermuda, some turned back and a few made it to Bantry Bay on their own. Some even ended up in the Azores. The lack of the large black block "AL" numbers on the sides of the fairwater may mean this was taken early in the war.

Since there is no definitive indication this is the L-9 a lot of speculation is going on into trying to prove this. Unfortunately the photo is not of high enough quality to pick out clear indicators but this may be a photo taken in the waters off the Azores waiting for the tow to Ireland. Once landing in the Azores and Ireland submarines began, at British insistence, the installation of the chariot style bridge surrounds. This allowed for greater crew safety and faster diving. By closer inspection of the bridge area, the officer, (or captain), seems to be leaning back on what my be this type structure. For a period of time the L-9 chariot bridge was smaller than those of its sisters. (See photo below) This was later enlarged.

Original Photo in the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
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The USS L-3 and L-9 moored side by side and the smaller chariot bridge on the L-9 is quite obvious. Submarines spent much time on the surface and this smaller dridge enclosure provided little protection for the bridge crews and was later made larger.

US Navy Photo
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This is purported to be the USS L-9. The only information we have about the identification is this is definitely an "L" class submarine. There is a pencil note on the back of the photo identifying this as the L-9 but this is not a positive Identification.

Original Photo in the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
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By closer inspection of the bridge area of this photo, the officer, (or captain), seems to be leaning back on what my be the smaller chariot bridge structure the L-9 had earlier in her war career.

Original Photo in the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
USS L-10
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The USS L-10 seen here making a dive in Bantry Bay In Ireland. Bantry Bay was used by American and English submarines during WW I. American submarines would make 10 day patrols looking for German submarines and shipping to attack that were trying to sink Allied merchant and naval shipping.

This photo spans the time from January 1918 when she joined Submarine Division 5 in the British Isles to after the Armistice on November 11, 1919. The L-10 remained in England until sailing for the United States January 3, 1919. So a date of mid 1918 is probably good to date this image.

The photo, which has come from some sort of publication that bares no remnant of its origin, shows the L 10 diving in the bay. Most likely a test dive to check systems and get a trim before heading out to patrol. The object seen just in front of the conning tower fairwater is the barrel of the 3"/23 caliber deck gun carried by US submarines at that time. It mounted in a vertical position when not in use partly retracted into the deck.

Compared to today’s submarines that have a almost unlimited patrol time, these vessels were only capable of an average patrol of about 10 days. Food and fresh water storage and no refrigeration and no bathing facilities plus being in damp to wet clothing and living conditions pushed the endurance window.


Photo in the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
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The USS L-10, with the American “A” added to her fairwater to avoid confusion with the British “L” class submarines, in Bantry Bay, Ireland.. There is no date on the photo but the assumption is circa 1918. The L-10 was one of the best American subs working out of Ireland.

Lieut. Vincent Arthur Clarke, Jr was sent for submarine training at New London, Connecticut. Upon graduation he was assigned to submarine duty and sent to the Azores. From there he was made the Commanding Officer of the USS L-10, probably relieving Lieut. Newbold T Lawrence jr. as CO. The L-10 was operating out of Bantry Bay, Ireland for the duration of the war.

This command garnered Clarke a Navy Cross for his persistence in making the L-10 one of the 'hot running boats' in WW I. Racking up over 1700 hours out on patrol in pursuit of the enemy. Bare in mind war patrols in WW I were only an average of 10 days duration due to the subs limits on food, water and fuel.

Lieut. Clarke is probably the officer on the bridge in this photo as the L-10 backs away from her mooring. The crew look to be stowing the mooring lines in preparation for possibly heading out on a war patrol looking for German submarines.


Photo from the Library of Congress Collection
USS L-10 SS 50
USS L-10 SS 50 wearing her WW I "A".
The L-10 was heavily depth charged by the American destroyer USS Sterett in the Irish Sea after she had developed an oil leak. The Sterett thought she had found a German "U-Boat". L-10 managed to surface and identify herself before the destroyer managed to use her guns to try and sink her.
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The USS L-10 seen here loading a torpedo. The location is most probably Bantry Bay, Ireland circa 1918.

Seen just forward and on either side of the open hatch are the three heads of the K-tube sonar. The torpedo is most likely a Bliss-Leavitt 18” Mk. 6.

Lieut. Vincent Arthur Clarke, Jr was the Commanding Officer of the L-10 at this time. He later became the commissioning officer and Captain of the USS R-14.

Thanks to Dave Johnston for the identifacation.


Photo from the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
USS L-11
USS L-11 SS 51

USS L-11 SS 51 in her pre WW I configuration with the pipe and canvas bridge enclosures.


USS L-11 SS 51
USS L-11 SS 51

The USS L-11 sighted a U-boat on the surface. Not wanting to repeat the L-4 disaster of missing the shot, the Capt., Lt. A. C. Bennett, fired two torpedoes at the German, the second torpedo was launched five seconds after the first but faulty speed controls caused the second torpedo to run faster than the first and over took it and blew both torpedoes up. The U-boat dove and got away.

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The USS L-11 seen here in Portland Harbor, England after WWI ended, probably late November, 1918. The view is looking from aft (right) to forward (left). Behind her is the USS L-1 and the USS L-3.

A caption on the back of the photo says," US Submarine AL-11 which we fired on by mistake on Nov 4th" which implies that the photo taker was on a surface craft of some sort. We don't see any mention of this on DANFS account of the L-11 service. No doubt it should be in her logbooks for November 4th, 1918.

Original Snapshot Photo in the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
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The USS L-11 seen here post WW I circa 1920 moored to a civilian dock. The location is unknown . L-11 operated out of Portland, England, until January 3, 1919 when she sailed for the United States. Arriving in Philadelphia February 1, 1919 she began operations off the East Coast of the US for the next 4 years helping develop submarine warfare tactics. L-11 decommissioned at Hampton Roads, Va., 28 November 1923, and was scrapped 28 November 1933.

In this photo all marking from WW I have been removed but the steel chariot bridge that proved so successful in crew protection and allowing quick dives is retained and will become the standard for many subsequent classes of submarine. Her 3"/23 caliber deck gun is in its raised position. A crowd of civilians have gathered to look her over. Note the vintage car on the dock.

Original Photo in the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
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A closer look at the USS L-11 seen circa 1920 moored to a civilian dock. The location is unknown . Her 3"/23 caliber deck gun is in its raised position. A crowd of civilians have gathered to look her over. Note the vintage car on the dock. I see no sign of ships crew any place.

Original Photo in the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
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A closer look at the USS L-11. Her 3"/23 caliber deck gun is in its raised position. A crowd of civilians, mostly men and boys it seems, have gathered to look her over. I see no sign of ships crew any place.

Original Photo in the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
Racks of torpedoes
Racks of torpedoes for the war effort waiting to be loaded into boats. These are the Mark 7 torpedo, 17.7" in diameter and 17 feet long. This is typically the torpedo carried by all US subs into combat in WW I. The A, B and C class subs carried the Mark 7 Mod "D" that was 5 feet shorter to fit their tubes.
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