USS S-4 (SS-109) served the Navy well for the over 14 years, but her career was marred by at tragic accident that occurred on December 17, 1927. On that date she was conducting submerged trials on the measured mile in Cape Cod Bay off Provincetown, MA. While coming to the surface at the end of the run, she was rammed by the Coast Guard Cutter Paulding (CG-17). S-4 sank immediately with her entire crew, but six men were still alive in the forward torpedo room. A frantic rescue effort followed, but it was not successful and the entire crew perished. The boat was subsequently salvaged and partially reconditioned, but it was not returned to full service. Instead, she was used as a test bed to develop new technologies and techniques for submarine escape, rescue, and salvage. She was finally decommissioned in 1933 and eventually scrapped. Please see this link for a detailed photographic essay of her salvage. The webmasters can also highly recommend this book: Seventeen Fathoms Deep: The Saga of the Submarine S-4 Disaster by historian Joseph A. Williams. The webmasters were happy to act as technical advisors for the book. Mr. Williams wrote an incredible tale of danger, tragedy, perseverance, and ingenuity. You will not be disappointed with this true story.
August 27, 1919, S-4 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME., about to be launched. She was sponsored by Mrs. Herbert S. Howard, seen here with Admiral Clifford J Boush, Commandant of the Portsmouth yard. Also notable at the launching was the then Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and later President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Photo from the Portsmouth Navy Yard Industrial Department newsletter "Life Buoy", 1919.
S-4 shown alongside at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Christmas Day, 1919. This view is from the bow looking aft towards the gun deck and the conning tower fairwater. Of particular note is the fact that she is still missing her deck gun, even though she has already been commissioned. It will be installed later. A large coil of rope lays where the 4"/50 caliber deck gun will eventually go. On the right is the destroyer USS Israel (DD-98) which is at Portsmouth for conversion to a mine layer. On the left it is thought to be the S-5 (SS-110) which was only a few months behind the S-4 in construction. Interesting to note that both were destined to sunk in accidents.
U.S. Navy photo.
Another topside view of S-4 on Christmas Day, 1919 at Portsmouth. View is from the stern looking forward. The open hatch is to the engine room. On the left is the bow of the destroyer USS Israel (DD-98) which is at Portsmouth for conversion to a mine layer.
U.S. Navy photo.
S-4 underway on trials not long after being commissioned, December 26, 1919. This is probably at the mouth of the Piscataqua River that divides New Hampshire and Maine. The Portsmouth Navy Yard where she was built is out of the frame to the left. Note here that she does not yet have her deck gun installed.
