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Photo # NH 41861:  USS S-4 at Port Angeles, Washington, circa 1925-1926

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

USS S-4 (Submarine # 109, later SS-109), 1919-1936

USS S-4, an 876-ton S-3 class submarine, was built by the Portsmouth Navy Yard, located in Kittery, Maine. Entering commissioned service in mid-November 1919, early in the following year she went to Cuba on a shakedown cruise, then served in the Gulf of Mexico and off New England until November 1920. In that month she began a year-long voyage to the Philippines, travelling by way of the Panama Canal and Hawaii in company with several other "S" type submarines. S-4 remained in the Far East until late 1924 and served in U.S. West Coast waters for another two years. She returned to the Atlantic in the spring of 1927 and again began operations off New England.

On 17 December 1927, while conducting submerged trials off Provincetown, Massachusetts, S-4 was rammed by the U.S. Coast Guard destroyer Paulding (CG-17). Holed in the starboard side, just forward of her deck gun, the submarine sank immediately. All of her officers and men were able to reach unflooded compartments as S-4 went to the bottom in 110 feet of water. However, the majority, who had gone aft, soon succumbed. In her torpedo room, forward, six men remained alive. In extremely cold water and tangled wreckage, Navy divers worked desperately to rescue them, but a storm forced the abandonment of this effort on 24 December. In all, forty men lost their lives in the tragedy.

During the first three months of 1928, divers and other salvage personnel were able to raise the sunken S-4 and tow her to the Boston Navy Yard, where she was drydocked and repaired. She returned to active duty in October and was employed thereafter as a submarine rescue and salvage test ship. Work with her helped to develop equipment and techniques that bore fruit a decade later, when 33 men were brought up alive from the sunken submarine Squalus.

In April 1933, following experimental service in New England, Gulf of Mexico and Hawaiian waters, USS S-4 was placed out of commission. She was stricken from the list of Naval vessels in January 1936 and disposed of by sinking in mid-May of that year.

This page features, or provides links to, all the views we have concerning USS S-4 (Submarine # 109, later SS-109).

For more images related to this submarine, see:

  • USS S-4 -- In Groups with Other Submarines;
  • USS S-4 -- Interior Views, 1919;
  • USS S-4 -- As a Test Ship, 1928-1933;
  • Loss and Recovery of of USS S-4, 17 December 1927 - March 1928.


    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 46335

    USS S-4
    (Submarine # 109)

    Underway on 26 December 1919, probably off Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
    Photographed by the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 41812

    USS S-4
    (Submarine # 109)

    Underway on 26 December 1919, probably off Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
    Photographed by the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 41861

    USS S-4
    (SS-109)

    At Port Angeles, Washington, circa 1925-1926.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 505 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 46336

    USS S-4
    (Submarine # 109)

    In port, during the 1920s.

    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 41858

    USS Holland
    (AS-3)

    Hoisting USS S-4 (SS-109) by the bow so repairs can be made, during the 1920s.
    Note the use of Holland's "clipper" bow as a lifting platform.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 545 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 41862

    USS Holland
    (AS-3)

    Preparing to hoist USS S-4 (SS-109) by the bow so repairs can be made, during the 1920s.
    Note the heavy lifting gear deployed from Holland's "clipper" bow.
    Photographed by Chief Quartermaster Peck.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 465 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 41839

    USS S-4
    (Submarine # 109)

    View on deck, looking aft from the bow, 25 December 1919. Taken at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine.
    USS Israel (Destroyer # 98) is partially visible at right.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 108KB; 595 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 41840

    USS S-4
    (Submarine # 109)

    View on deck, looking forward from the stern, 25 December 1919. Taken at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine.
    USS Israel (Destroyer # 98) is partially visible at left.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 102KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 41837

    USS S-4
    (Submarine # 109)

    One of the ship's officers and several crew members pose on deck, at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, on 26 December 1919.
    Destroyer in the immediate background is USS Israel (Destroyer # 98).
    Note that S-4's 4"/50 deck gun has not yet been installed.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 41859

    USS S-4
    (Submarine # 109)

    Outline plan showing the general arrangement of S-4 and other submarines of her type.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 90KB; 1200 x 625 pixels

     


    For more images related to this submarine, see:

  • USS S-4 -- In Groups with Other Submarines;
  • USS S-4 -- Interior Views, 1919;
  • USS S-4 -- As a Test Ship, 1928-1933;
  • Loss and Recovery of of USS S-4, 17 December 1927 - March 1928.


    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 16 October 2005