L-3
L-3 is seen here on July 18, 1917 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard undergoing a pre-deployment overhaul. Both of the L-3's periscopes can be seen. These are non-housing types that do not raise or lower. Once the boats arrived in the war theater in Europe they would be changed out for housing-type periscopes. Between the two scopes can be seen the upper edge of the conning tower, with two deadlight windows and the open top hatch. The conning tower was very small, not much more than an access trunk. The US entered WW I on April 6, 1917 and submarines were to be deployed to the Azores and Ireland to patrol the waters and deny access and free reign to the German U-Boats. In the background can be seen the submarine K-5 with the number 37 painted on her conning tower fairwater. There are at least four more submarines in the photo but they can't be identified. A vintage motorcycle is parked on the pier.
L-3 seen here on August 24, 1918 at Bantry Bay, Ireland after an eight day war patrol. The inscription on the back says; "...I just came in from an eight day patrol. The Captain had sent me after the mail so I was out of luck for getting my dirty face in it. Cecile Chart Aug 24..." The man on the far right has his foot up on a lifeline stanchion. Under the bend of his leg can be seen the barrel of the 3"/23 caliber Mk 9deck gun. This gun retracted into the deck with the barrel pointing straight up. The original photo is in bad condition and is very fragile. This accounts for the lines and damages to the photo.
