S-49

S-49 is shown here on trials, likely shortly after her commissioning, June, 1922. The location is not known for sure, but it is likely in Long Island Sound or in the Atlantic off of Block Island. The sailor on the forward deck is waving to the boat taking the picture, but given the narrowness of the deck in that spot, this is not a safe thing to be doing.

USN Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

S-49 at sea in January, 1926 in a unsettled sea. The original photograph was not in good condition, and the large white spot at the bottom is a tear in the photo.

On April 20, 1926 the USS S-49, while moored at Sub Base New London, suffered a battery gas explosion in the after battery compartment, while putting in a battery charge, injuring 12 men. The base fire department was called and the rescuers donned gas masks and got the injured men out of the boat. Though there was some inhalation of battery gases most of the injuries were concussions and bone fractures from the force of the explosion.

The injured:

Mathew Timothy Greenville, quarter first class, 15 Middle St., Saco, Maine.
Theodore Holet, Jr., chief boatswain's mate, Groton, Conn.*
Frederick France Horn, boatswain's mate, second class, 947 Walnut Street, Freeland, Penn.
Daniel Ford, seaman first class, 180 Bennington street, East Boston, Mass
Sylvester Erie Mattlock, fireman first Class, 203 State Street, Charleston, Ills.
Ollie J. Cooke, seaman first class, Danville, Virginia*
Claire Daniel Fellds, electricians mate, first class, 18 Pine St., Reno, Nev.*
Francis Leo Conway, torpedoman second class, 20 Dinley Street, Dracut, Mass.
Ralph Edward McCormack, gunner's mate, 51 Prospect Street, West Lynn, Mass.*
Gustave Vernon Johnson, chief electrician's mate, Groton, Conn.
Bernard Leslie Sloggett, torpedoman, first class, New London.
Bssil 8. Morris, fireman, third class, 36 Oak Street, Asheville, N. C.

Johnson, Sloggett and Morris are suffering from minor injuries and gas while the others are all in serious condition. Greenville, with a probably fractured skull and other injuries is expected to die and the condition of several of the others is extremely critical.
Greenfield Daily Recorder, April 20, 1926

• Actually died from injuries from the explosion.

USN Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

S-49 shown underway, likely in the 1922 to 1926 time frame, location unknown. Unusually, she is running "clean", without the heavy mine clearance/radio aerial strung between the bow, the bridge, and the stern.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

A closeup of the photo above, showing details of the conning tower fairwater and bridge. Unlike the other Government design S-boats, the S-48 group had a access trunk installed at the forward end of the conning tower fairwater. This allowed access to the main deck directly from the control room. It was intended to be used by the gun crew during a surface action, and thus was called the gun access trunk.

At the top of the photo, just behind the standing men, is a section of the periscope shears that had numerous holes drilled in it. This contained the main air induction valve and piping, which was used to draw in the vast quantities of air needed for running the diesel engines. Locating it as high as possible kept it dry while running on the surface in heavy weather. Aft of this, on the very aft edge of the shears is the ship's bell.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

S-49 underway in 1927. Location is not known for sure, but this could possibly be off west Florida or the Keys during exercises she conducted with S-50 in January and February 1927.

USN Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

S-49 seen from the air in 1927. This photo was probably taken while the boat was in transit to Philadelphia for decommissioning in March.

USN Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

S-49 seen from a different angle, probably in March 1927 enroute to Philadelphia and decommissioning. S-49 and S-50 were taken out of service to get the USN within compliance of the London Naval Treaty, which limited the tonnage of submarines that the USN could have. In reality, the USN was not happy with the S-48 group for several reasons, so sending them to the mothball fleet in Philadelphia upset no one.

USN Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

An S-49 enlisted crewman's dress blues "flat hat". This was a traditional style of cover that was worn for inspections and formal ceremonies in place of the more recognizable white hat. The flat hat survived as part of a sailor's sea bag officially until April 1, 1963, when it was fully withdrawn from service. However, its use had tapered off considerably in the years prior and a Uniform Regulations chapter dated March 20, 1959 no longer listed it. This particular hat is privately owned by Ric Hedman.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

S-49 as a civilian exhibit

S-49 clung to life after decommissioning in 1930, ending up as a traveling exhibit in private hands. She is seen here in her civilian guise, 1936. The "C" on the bow is the submarine's name! Owner Francis J. Chrestensen had the vessel registered as a "Yacht" to be able to take it to Canada since there was a treaty between the U.S. and Canada not to bring war ships into the Great Lakes. Note the boat's real name next to the C. She is sitting very high in the water as there is little fuel onboard, and the batteries and weapons have been removed. She has also been rendered incapable of diving. PigBoats.COM has a host of pictures of her in the era, please click click on this link for these pictures.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

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