N-5

It is March 22, 1917, and the submarine N-5 is ready for launch at the Lake shipyard in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Looking at the dignitary's platform, the object seen laying on the floor is wicker basket for the the bottle of champagne that will be used to christen the vessel. The basket helps to catch the broken glass. A ribbon can be seen leading up to the bullnose.

Looking at the bow you see what looks like a 10x10" inch timber lashed to the deck that is holding the anchors that are dropped to stop the submarine from traveling too far once she was afloat.

At the left side of the photo, just where some lines are crossing the waterline, are the diving planes used for zero-angle, or "even keel" diving. Lake tried to get the Navy to adopt his zero-angle dive philosophy over the angled dive of Electric Boat, believing it was safer. The concept was not successful.

U.S. Navy photo.

The just launched submarine N-5 being warped onto a pier by a tug. The date is March 22, 1917. The location is the Lake shipyard in Bridgeport, CT. The N-class were small submarines, and their diminutive size is demonstrated here by the size of the men standing on her deck.

Lake employees are the people handling the lines. At this time submarine's were launched with little or no Navy personnel involved in the operation. It was the yard's responsibility to build, launch, and test the submarine before turning it over to the Navy.

U.S. Navy photo.

N-5 on the surface at the mouth of the Thames River, Connecticut in the early 1920's. She is probably returning from a training mission off shore for students at the Submarine School upriver in Groton.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

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