These Holland/EB design harbor defense boats were the first production class ordered by the USN. They were enlarged and improved versions of the USS Holland. Plunger was the first boat authorized, but her construction was delayed while the Navy worked to resolve the contractual issues of the earlier, unsuccessful, and never completed steam-powered Plunger of 1891. Thus, Adder was the first boat commissioned and the class was originally referred to as the Adder class. The new Plunger, along with Adder, Moccasin, Porpoise, and Shark were built at Lewis Nixon's Crescent Shipyard in Elizabethport, NJ. Grampus and Pike were built at Union Iron Works in San Francisco, the first submarines to be built on the west coast. This class originally carried the names of fish/marine and stinging creatures. On November 17, 1911 they were all renamed into the A-class. Additionally, on July 17, 1920 the boats remaining on the Navy List (either active or reserve) had their designations changed from the general submarine series into the SS series. Plunger had been stricken from the Navy List in 1913 and thus was never officially redesignated.
Plunger/A-1 (Submarine No. 2)
Page From 1906 edition of Navy Today in the Private Collection of Ric Hedman
Plunger in drydock, possibly at Norfolk Navy Yard, VA., late fall 1905. She was likely being prepared for a two year period of inactive reserve. The men shown topside are most likely civilian yard workers, as none of them are wearing a uniform. The rectangular torpedo loading hatch is open on the forward deck. On the far right in the photo, the boat's single torpedo tube outer door is open.
Adder under tow, most likely on Long Island Sound en-route to New Suffolk on Great Peconic Bay where the Holland Torpedo Boat Company had its operating facility. The date is likely the late summer of 1901. Adder was built at the Crescent Shipyard in Elizabethport, NJ., owned by Lewis Nixon, who was a subcontractor for John Holland. The tow cable can be seen on the right side of the photo. The three men on deck are HTBC employees. The man in the center has the topside helm or steering wheel in his hands and is no doubt keeping the submarine steady and stopping it from tracking back and forth as it is being towed.
Grampus running builder's trials in San Francisco Bay until the purview of Union Iron Works company staff. It is likely a few members of the boat's Navy crew were onboard to observe. Two men are sitting on the coaming of the conning tower hatch. A horizontal helm wheel has been installed and one of the men is steering the boat using this wheel. The man actually steering appears to be wearing a Navy style cap and might be the prospective commanding officer, LT Arthur MacArthur, Jr., the brother of the future Army general.
