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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 42620:  USS Plunger underway off the New York Navy Yard, circa 1909

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Plunger (Submarine # 2), 1903-1922.
Later renamed A-1

USS Plunger, a 107-ton Holland-type submarine built at Elizabethport, New Jersey, was commissioned in September 1903. She served on experimental torpedo duties at Newport, Rhode Island, until 1905. In August of that year Plunger was visited by President Theodore Roosevelt, who thus became the first U.S. Chief Executive to dive in a submarine. Out of commission from November 1905 until February 1907, Plunger was then based at the New York Navy Yard for two years and, beginning in October 1909, operated out of the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina. She was a unit of the Reserve Torpedo Flotilla after April 1910. The submarine was renamed A-1 in November 1911 and stricken from the Navy list in February 1913. Later used as a target, her hulk was sold for scrapping in January 1922.

This page features all the views we have of USS Plunger (Submarine # 2), which was renamed A-1 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 42621

USS Plunger
(Submarine # 2)
outboard of
USS Shark (Submarine # 8)

At the Electric Boat Company facility, New Suffolk, Long Island, New York, in 1902.
Note the surface navigation lights of these two submarines, and their differing superstructure arrangements.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 45937

Electric Boat Company/Holland Torpedo Boat Company facility, New Suffolk, Long Island, New York


Submarines in the facility basin, circa 1903.
Boats in the front group are (from left to right):
USS Plunger (Submarine # 2);
USS Porpoise (Submarine # 7); and
USS Adder (Submarine # 3).
In the background, by the breakwater are (left-right):
USS Shark (Submarine # 8) and
USS Moccasin (Submarine # 5).
Photographed by Legendre & Levick, New York.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 580 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85293

USS Plunger
(Submarine # 2)

At the New York Navy Yard, circa 1903.
USS Massachusetts (Battleship # 2) is under refit in the background.
Published on a stereograph card by the Keystone View Company, circa 1918.

Courtesy of Commander Donald J. Robinson, USN(MSC), 1977

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 101KB; 630 x 675 pixels

A stereo pair version of this image is available as Photo # NH 85293-A

Online Image of stereo pair: 77KB; 675 x 355 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 42622

USS Plunger
(Submarine # 2)

Hauled out of the water, during the early 1900s.
Note the bollard in the foreground, made from an old muzzle-loading cannon.

Courtesy of the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 102428

USS Plunger
(Submarine Torpedo Boat # 2)

Hauled out of the water at a Navy yard, circa 1903-1905.
USS Alabama (Battleship # 8) is in the right background.

Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cahn, 1990.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 530 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85735

USS Plunger
(Submarine # 2)

Officer in the submarine's conning tower hatch, circa the early 1900s.
Published on a contemporary picture postal card.

Courtesy of Alfred Cellier, 1977.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 565 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 62730

USS Plunger
(Submarine # 2)

Alongside a coal dock at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., July 1906.
The names of three of the submarine's Commanding Officers are written on the print: Lieutenants C.P. Nelson, P.P. Bassett and C.W. Nimitz.
The print was presented to Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz by Chief Torpedoman's Mate H.J. Chagnot, USN (Retired), who wrote on its reverse: "Admiral Nimitz: Remember this old battle wagon? As I remember it you were skipper of it after 'Juggie" Nelson. You may keep this for yourself if you see fit. Sorry to hear about English he was my skipper on the old 'D-3' and O-4."

Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 119KB; 740 x 590 pixels

 
Photo #: 19-N-15-28-7

New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York


Submarines Shark (Submarine # 8), Plunger (Submarine # 2) and Porpoise (Submarine # 7) housed over and covered with snow, in one of the Navy Yard's drydocks, 25 January 1908.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 145KB; 740 x 615 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 42620

USS Plunger
(Submarine # 2)

Underway off the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., circa 1909.
Note the coal-handling facility in the center background.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 530 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 49357-KN (color)

USS Plunger (Submarine # 2)

Underway off the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., circa 1909.
This print is autographed in red ink by Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, who was one of Plunger's Commanding Officers.
The image, unautographed, is Photo # NH 42620.

Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

Page made 11 June 2003
New image added 28 February 2004