This photo was taken on February 8, 1911 shortly after G-1's launch. At this time she was named Seal. The doors in the superstructure for the trainable torpedo tubes can clearly be seen. Neither the periscope or the supporting shears have yet been added. The men on deck are all Newport News Shipbuilding or Lake company employees. This is the James River, just off Newport News, VA., looking to the west. Carrollton, VA. is in the background, with the entrance to the Nansemond River to the left.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.
The G-1 is seen here prior to her commissioning, probably in the summer of 1912 while running builder's trials. The location is likely somewhere in Hampton Roads, VA., likely in the James River near Newport News. The crew on deck seem to be mostly civilian with a few exceptions. It is hard to see detail due to the poor quality of the photo. There does seem to be an officer on the bow, second from the left and an enlisted man just to the right of the forward ventilator on the higher deck. They seem to be doing something requiring diving as the left most man is clearly stripped down for swimming and there seems to be a man handling a line or hose going over the side. There are deck chairs on the raised deck forward of the bridge. All of her hatches are open. Her name G-1 can been seen at the aft end of the superstructure.
National Archives photo
G-1 in drydock at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, October or November of 1912. The doors to the two superstructure mounted torpedo tubes are open. The forward tube in the superstructure can be seen to be rotated to port. The purpose of the clamshell-like doors on the aft hull is not known for sure. They may have provided access to ballast tank vent valves or superstructure piping. They would only be opened during a refit.
Photo from the Rick Larson Collection, now in the private collection of Ric Hedman.
G-1 in drydock in Brooklyn, at about the same time as the photo above, fall 1912. This is the starboard side looking aft. On the far right the starboard bow torpedo tube can be seen flared out from the bow. Shoring has been erected on the side of the boat to keep it upright in the dock. Above each set of vertical shoring can be seen the three sets of amidships diving planes. Simon Lake emphasized non-angle diving, and these planes were meant to drive the boat under while maintaining a zero angle. The concept did not work well in practice due to the inability to precisely regulate the fore and aft ballast. The planes are folded up alongside the hull in this photo. The doors for the trainable superstructure torpedo tubes are open, and details of their operating mechanism can be seen. They were a two piece split affair, with one portion opening upward and the other opening downward. Just forward of the superstructure the oval torpedo loading deck hatch can be seen removed and laying athwartships. Removing this hatch provided access to the watertight hatch inside the superstructure.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman
The G-1 is seen here circa February 1918 frozen solid into about 18 inches of ice on the Thames River at Submarine Base New London, Groton, CT. The bulbous object on the forward deck is a signaling bell, a primitive means of underwater communication. The torpedo loading derrick is in place just forward of the superstructure. An overhaul in 1916 had removed the troublesome trainable torpedo tubes, and in this picture the doors for them have been removed and plated over. There is a tubular frame for a canvas bridge structure erected on the conning tower fairwater, but the canvas itself is not installed. You can also see the helm wheel on the bridge. There is another submarine on the other side of the pier. It is hard to say who it may be, but based on the arrangement of the periscopes it might be the G-2. The arch seen in the background behind the G-1 periscopes looks to be a snow-covered hillside and not the Gold Star Bridge, which hadn't been built at that time.
National Archives photo
An H-class boat (possibly the H-1 or H-2) alongside the G-1 and another unknown submarine. Photo taken circa 1918, possibly at Submarine Base New London, CT.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman
G-1 alongside the surrendered German submarine U-117. Photo was most likely taken at the Brooklyn Navy Yard early in 1919. The snowy conditions indicate January or February. U-117 was a long-range minelaying submarine that had operated off the American east coast. She surrendered at Harwich, England on November 21, 1918 and was subsequently turned over to the U.S. An American submarine crew sailed her across the Atlantic for a goodwill tour and technical examination. Note the huge size differential between her and G-1. The German state-of-the-art in submarine technology was the best in the world at the time. G-1 has a permanent metal bridge structure, a lesson learned from the war.
National Archives photo
G-1 getting underway from Submarine Base New London, CT. circa 1919/1920. Her crew is busy stowing the mooring lines. This photo gives a good view of the permanent chariot-style bridge, and shows the smooth sided superstructure after the removal of the trainable torpedo tubes.
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