USS N-3 (SS-55)

USS N-3 (SS-55) was a N-class coastal defense submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on 31 July 1915 by the Seattle Construction and Drydock Company. She was launched on 21 February 1917 sponsored by Miss Bertha Coontz, daughter of the commandant of Puget Sound Navy Yard, Captain Robert Coontz, and commissioned on 26 September 1917 with Lieutenant William R. Munroe in command. N-3 was the last submarine constructed in Seattle.

Bertha Coontz sponsoring N-3 at N-3's launching ceremony on 17 February 1917.

USS N-3, possibly during her voyage up the St. Lawrence River in 1921.
History
United States
Name: USS N-3
Builder: Seattle Construction and Drydock Company, Seattle, Washington
Laid down: 31 July 1915
Launched: 21 February 1917
Commissioned: 26 September 1917
Decommissioned: 30 April 1926
Stricken: 18 December 1930
Fate: Scrapped, early 1931
General characteristics
Type: N class submarine
Displacement:
  • 348 long tons (354 t) surfaced
  • 414 long tons (421 t) submerged
Length: 147 ft 3 in (44.88 m)
Beam: 15 ft 9 in (4.80 m)
Draft: 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
Propulsion: Diesel-electric
Speed:
  • 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) surfaced
  • 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) submerged
Complement: 25 officers and men
Armament: 4 × 18 inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes

Service history

Following sea trials in Puget Sound, N-3, with sister ships N-1 (SS-53) and N-2 (SS-54), departed the Navy Yard on 21 November 1917. The three submarines arrived at New London, Connecticut, on 7 February 1918. From here, N-3 patrolled along the New England coast and off Long Island. On 23 July, a British steamer mistook N-3 as a German U-boat and fired on her at a range of only 50 yards. Although hit by a six-inch shell, the submarine suffered only slight damage and after repairs at sea, was able to proceed to New York Navy Yard under her own power. Following permanent repairs, N-3 returned to the Submarine School, New London for patrol and training duty through 1920.

Departing New London on 1 June 1921, N-3 sailed for Toledo, Ohio. One of the first submarines to navigate the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, she put in at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Montreal, Quebec, and Port Dalhousie before arriving Toledo, Ohio, on 25 June. She remained there for 11 days, open to the public for inspection. Departing on 6 July, she returned to New London, arriving on 20 July, and from there cruised along the East Coast from Halifax to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, conducting training cruises. Departing New London, she sailed for the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she decommissioned on 30 April 1926. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 18 December 1930 and was scrapped in mid-1931.

References
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