L-1

Bridge and conning tower fairwater close up of the L-1 while on sea trials, spring 1916. Four crew can be seen in this detail. Directly above the number 40 is a sailor standing next to a ventilation pipe and a searchlight. Both periscopes can be seen, along with a T-shaped radio mast. A temporary canvas bridge enclosure has been erected. It would be removed when the boat submerged. The object on the forward deck is a torpedo loading derrick, used to recover practice torpedoes after firing. Interesting, in this image, is the shading given to 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.

Library of Congress Collection

L-1 underway probably spring or early summer 1916, shortly after commissioning. Location could [possibly be Newport, R.I. 26 of the 28 crew are on deck.

Photo from the private collection of Ric Hedman.

The 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 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, there is what appears to be a freight wagon full of tied bags. 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 driver's 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.

Photo from the private collection of Ric Hedman.

L-1 in dry dock, Norfolk, Va, circa 1920. A crewmember is standing on port stern plane. Note the ropes over the top of the skeg holding scaffolding in place.

Photo from the private collection of Ric Hedman.

Return to the L-class page | Return to the Submarine Classes page

Page created by:
Ric Hedman & David Johnston
1999 - 2023 - PigBoats.COM^©
Mountlake Terrace, WA, Norfolk, VA
webmaster at pigboats dot com