USS Grampus, a 107-ton Plunger (later A-1) class submarine, was built at San Francisco, California. She was commissioned in late May 1903 and operated in the San Francisco Bay region until November 1906, when she was laid up at the Mare Island Navy Yard. Returned to commissioned status in June 1908, Grampus served along the California coast for four years. She was renamed A-3 in November 1911. In reserve at the Puget Sound Navy Yard after June 1912, in February 1915 the submarine was placed on board the collier Hector for transportation to the Philippines. Arriving at Olongapo in late March and placed in commission in April 1915, A-3 began some six years of Asiatic Fleet duty. During the First World War she conducted patrols in the Manila Bay area. In July 1920, when the Navy formally implemented its hull number system, she was designated SS-4. USS A-3 was decommissioned at Cavite Navy Yard in July 1921, stricken from the Navy list in January 1922 and sunk as a target in Manila Bay.
This page features all the views we have concerning USS Grampus (Submarine # 4), which was renamed A-3 in 1911.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 53764 USS Grampus (Submarine # 4) Photographed near San Francisco, California, during her trials, November 1902. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 560 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 75174 USS Grampus (Submarine # 4) Running trials, near San Francisco, California, 3 November 1902. Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, 1971. The original print is in the Union Iron Works scrapbook, Volume II, page 167. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 560 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 53763 USS Grampus (Submarine # 4) Underway in the vicinity of San Francisco, California, during her trials, November 1902. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 410 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 75175 USS Grampus (Submarine # 4) Underway while running trials, near San Francisco, California, 3 November 1902. Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, 1971. The original print is in the Union Iron Works scrapbook, Volume II, page 167. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 575 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 77180 USS Grampus (Submarine # 4) Off San Diego, California, in 1910. Note the towing bridle rigged to her bow. Courtesy Donald M. McPherson, 1973. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 84KB; 500 x 765 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 53765 USS Grampus (Submarine # 4) and USS Pike (Submarine # 6) In the hydraulic lift drydock at the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California, circa 1903. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 510 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 65644 USS Grampus (Submarine # 4) In drydock at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 23 September 1906. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 120KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 65648 USS Pike (Submarine # 6), at left and USS Grampus (Submarine # 4), at right In drydock at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 23 September 1906. The Army Transport Lawton, freshly painted, is in the center. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 164KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 70600 USS Pike (Submarine # 6), at left and USS Grampus (Submarine # 4), at right In drydock at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California. Photograph is dated 19 October 1903. The Army Transport Lawton is being painted in the right background. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 142KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 98616 Mare Island Navy Yard, California The Navy Yard Fire Department fights a gasoline fire apparently involving the submarines Grampus (Submarine # 4) and Pike (Submarine # 6), 1909-1910. One of the submarines can be seen just offshore, in the left center. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 530 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 104702-KN (color) USS Grampus (Submarine # 4) Largely submerged during a torpedo firing exercise off San Diego, California, 21 July 1910. The U.S. Navy tug Fortune (1871-1922) is in the background. The original photograph was printed on post card ("AZO") stock by Lee Passmore, Post Card Artist, 25th & M Sts., San Diego. See Photo # NH 102702-A-KN for the reverse of this postcard, containing a contemporary description concerning these ships. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 495 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 102451 USS Hector (Collier # 7) Off the Cavite Navy Yard, Philippine Islands, circa March 1915, with submarines A-3, A-5 and B-1 on deck, after transporting them out from the United States. B-1 is on Hector's starboard side. The two "A" boats are in the center and port side cradles. Donation of Ted Stone. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 440 pixels |
![]() |
The following photograph probably shows Grampus, or her sister, USS Pike (Submarine # 6):
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 21 July 2003
New images added 14 April 2007