The USS N-3 seen here most likely July 24 or 25, 1918 after she was shelled by a British Transport steamer. The shell hole can be seen just above the raft. Here is an account of what happened excerpted from "Beneath The Surface, World War Submarines Built in Seattle and Vancouver" By Bill Lightfoot;

USS N-3 July 23, 1918 on patrol off Long Island.

Capt. of the N-3, Lt. Aquilla Gibbs Dibrell, Sr., of Tennessee, grandson of Confederate Gen. George Dibrell, kept the N-3 on this submerged, one engine, periscope patrol all that day except to make a midday altitude observations and wireless report. He came to the surface at 8:08 p.m. To have a seaman swim out to investigate what turned out to be two pilings floating upright. Midnight found the N-3 laying-to, 2500 ampere hours short of a full battery charge, having just started the port engine after failure that evening of both engines.

With the N-3 still laying-to on this night of full moon but hazy visibility, Dibrell suddenly detected, at 2:55 a.m., a steamer 800 yards to starboard. At nearly the same time Gunner's mate Day reported a transport about 200 yards on the port quarter "headed right at us". Action became intense and confused. Ships seemed to be everywhere. The transport answered a green Very Pistol flare and flashlight recognition signals from the submarine with one long and three short blasts of the whistle, and with the order from the bridge, distinctly heard on the submarine,

"Fire!"

The flash of a six-incher at fifty yards. A shell penetrates N-THREE at the waterline. Attempting to maneuver. Engaging clutches. Shouting ship-to-ship. "Don't shoot, this is the N-THREE."

"Load!"

A flashlight pitifully lights up the American flag held aloft by two submariners. Other ships are glimpsed scattering in all directions.

Report from below: "Water coming in the torpedo compartment pretty fast."
"Close watertight doors!
"Blow forward trim and adjusting tanks!"
"Pump fuel overboard!"

"A destroyer looms into view," reported Capt. Dibrell. "I start to signal to request aid, but he is intent on ramming! At about twenty yards off I heard the officer on the bridge give 'hard right' and just as he grazed our bow 'hard left'."

By this time the surprised convoy is scattered, the dastardly transport out of sight, and the "friendly" destroyer, USS PREBLE Lieutenant Mack in command, has reversed its purpose and is standing by to be helpful. The surprised submarine is assessing damage. "Seventeen rivets sheered at the water line, frame no 79 bent and twisted, hole in superstructure, anchor cable cut and anchor lost, forward diving rudder rod bent and knuckle joint sheered, torpedo expulsion tank dented, water standing to the combing in the torpedo compartment, wireless destroyed... We picked up a shell in our forward superstructure and found it to be British."

"At 4:30 a.m., having made temporary repairs, I proceeded on course 317 degrees for Block Island on port engine." In his report Dibrell went on to commend the action of his crew, "Every man on watch remained at his station,... there was no undue confusion or noise,. . . prompt action ... and good judgement shown by May (Chief Gunner's Mate R. D. May) undoubtedly prevented the forward battery compartment from being flooded..."

This photo seems to have been taken at Block Island since the background doesn't look like the New York Navy Yard.

The man shown in the inset is Machinist Mate/2 William Brown. He is also seen standing just aft of the bow hatch with his hands on his hips and looking at the camera. According to MM/2 Brown's account to his son, mattresses were packed around the damaged area until better repairs could be made. Note the stack of seabags on the pier at the pier mounted boom.