L-3

L-3 approaching the Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA., summer of 1916. In the background off her starboard bow are the destroyers USS Henley (Destroyer No. 39), Paulding (Destroyer No. 22), and Fanning (Destroyer No. 37). On the far left are the masts of the sailing frigate USS Constitution.

U.S. Navy photo.

L-3 moored alongside Water Barge No. 5 at the Charlestown Navy Yard, summer 1916. Details of the distinctive towing fairlead at the tip of the bow, and of the folded bow planes can be seen. An officer's gig is maneuvering alongside.

U.S. Navy photo.

Another view of L-3 alongside at Charlestown, summer 1916. This yard was a busy place at this time, with many ships in for work as the U.S. Navy prepared itself for a war that many hoped would not come their way.

U.S. Navy photo.

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 (Submarine No. 37) 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.

U.S. Navy photo.

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 9 deck 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.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

L-3 during a visit to Plymouth, England, August 1918. The American boats operating in the war zone were based in Bantry Bay, Ireland, but they occasionally made a visit to other British ports.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

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