S-51 on her launch day, August 20, 1921 at the Lake Torpedo Boat Company yard in Bridgeport, CT. Despite being the last boat in the class by name, S-51 was actually the 23rd boat of the class to be commissioned. This was mostly due to the severe problems that Electric Boat encountered with the engines on their boats, greatly delaying their acceptance by the Navy. Note the Lake company flag flying from the jackstaff.
USN photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.
S-51 cuts a fine figure as she steams at high speed through the Atlantic in 1924. She was the last of the Government design S-boats, although her construction had been contracted to the Lake company.
USN photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.
S-51 seen from the starboard side in the Atlantic, 1924. Although this picture was probably taken at nearly the same time as the one above, the two seem to show her in different paint schemes. This is actually a trick of lighting. The boats were painted in a uniform haze gray paint scheme at this time.
Unfortunately, due to her relatively short life span, there are few good pictures of the S-51 prior to her accident.
USN photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.
