O-1 (SS-62) and S-3 under construction inside the old Franklin Shiphouse at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME., May or June 1918. The O-1 was only the 2nd submarine to be built at a Government shipyard. The Navy's Bureau of Construction & Repair had obtained a license from Electric Boat to build the O-1 at Portsmouth. Work on her and the previous L-8 (SS-48) gave the Navy the confidence it needed in its construction process to authorize a significant number of S-class to be built at Portsmouth. In this photo O-1 is approximately a month away from launching, S-3 would follow in December 1918. O-1 was built to the typical EB style single hull design (Portsmouth built her directly from the EB plans), while the much larger S-3 was built to a full double hull design developed by C&R. S-3's external framework is visible in the areas that have not yet been plated over.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
S-3 sliding down the ways at Portsmouth, December 21, 1918. The war was over, but the Navy was just getting started with S-boat construction. A long work platform is still attached to the starboard side of S-3. It will be removed later as construction moves forward. There are a lot of personnel on the deck, along with numerous signal flags strung stem to stern.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.
S-3 on her builder's trials, in the Piscataqua River near the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, ME. The date of the photo is January, 1919. This is a fine starboard quarter shot of the boat. It looks like the men on deck are a combination of sailors and yard personnel. The boat would be commissioned only a few weeks after this photo was taken. Unusually, the S-3 has her hull number painted on the side of the fairwater, not her name as was the convention at the time.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
S-3 on her builder's trials, headed out into the Atlantic from the Portsmouth Navy Yard, January, 1919. There are men standing on top of the conning tower fairwater, but the chariot style permanent bridge structure has not yet been installed. A torpedo loading derrick has been installed on the forward deck.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
S-3 diving during her builder's trials, January, 1919 in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New Hampshire, likely near the Isle of Shoals. The bridge hatch can clearly be seen on top of the conning tower. The absence of the yet-to-be-installed bridge structure is very apparent in this photo.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
S-3 is shown in drydock at the Portsmouth Navy Yard for post trials work, spring of 1919. Some work platforms have been erected around the forward superstructure and her torpedo tubes are open.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman
Another S-3 photo taken at the same time as the one above. A large warship can be seen moored in the Piscataqua River behind the drydock caisson, probably a cruiser.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman
A bow on shot of S-3 in drydock at Portsmouth, spring 1919. In this photo a canvas cover has been erected over the torpedo room hatch to keep rain and/or snow out.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman
S-3 near the end of her post-trials drydocking at Portsmouth Navy Yard, spring of 1919. At right can be seen the stern of the cruiser USS San Francisco (Cruiser No. 5), who shared the drydock with S-3. The submarine has received a fresh coat of paint and has been cleaned up in preparation for undocking. Note that she has yet to receive her bridge fairwater. It will likely be added after the drydocking is completed. A few months after this photo was taken San Francisco would be redesignated as a minelayer (CM-2), an acknowledgement of her role in laying the North Sea Mine Barrage in WWI.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman
S-3 moored outboard the S-4 (SS-109) and ten R-class submarines, summer of 1920. All are moored to the submarine tender USS Camden (AS-6). The photo was taken at the 79th Street Boat Basin at New York City on the west side of Manhattan Island. The R-boats are the R-1 through the R-10. Submarine Division 9 was en-route to the Caribbean for maneuvers. Note in this photo that S-3 has received her bridge fairwater, but that the periscope shears are below the level of the fairwater. The shears would later be lengthened to reduce vibrations in the scopes while running at periscope depth.
An original photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.
This photo of S-3 was taken in the entrance to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in the spring of 1921. Submarine Divisions 12 and 18 (all S-class submarines) were enroute to the Philippines for an extended deployment. The divisions stopped in Hawaii for upkeep, provisions, and fuel. This photo was taken by Seaman 1st Class Raymond Suess of the USS R-14 (SS-91)
From the Suess Family Collection, now in the private collection of Ric Hedman.
An S-3 crew photo, date not known for sure, but we believe it to be the early 1920's.
Photo provided by MMCM(SS) Rick Larson, USN (Ret.)
Close ups of the crew photo, showing details of the uniforms and the crew. If anyone can help us identify any of the sailors in this photo, please contact us.
Photo provided by MMCM(SS) Rick Larson, USN (Ret.)
