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USS G-3 (SS-31)
Encyclopedia
USS G-3 (SS-31) was a G-class
submarine
of the United States Navy
. While the four G-boats were nominally all of a class, they differed enough in significant details that they are sometimes considered to be four unique boats, each in a class by herself. G-3 was named Turbot when her keel was laid down on 30 March 1911 by the Lake Torpedo Boat
Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut
, making her the first ship of the United States Navy
to be named for the turbot
, a large, brown and white flatfish, valued as a food. She was renamed G-3 on 17 November 1911, transferred to the New York Navy Yard for completion on 17 November 1913 following the cancellation of the Lake contract, launched
on 27 December 1913, and commissioned
on 22 March 1915 with Lieutenant
Felix X. Gygax in command.
on 1 July to have sponson
s fitted to the boat to increase stability. During submerged test runs off Port Jefferson
in Long Island Sound
two weeks later, however, her crew discovered several leaks and the submersible docked at the Lake Company's marine railway for repairs and alterations. These modifications — which included work on the main engine oiling system as well as sponson installation — lasted until 8 January 1916. On that date, she sailed back to the New York Navy Yard to be inclined and undergo a deep submergence test. The latter took place off Eaton's Point, Long Island
, on 8 February, with Simon Lake
— owner of the Lake Torpedo Boat Company — embarked. The boat successfully completed a test dive to 198 ft (60.4 m) and was preliminarily accepted by the Navy that same day.
On 11 February, G-3 proceeded to New London, Connecticut
, for initial shakedown operations. Aside from a brief period alongside submarine tender
Tonopah (ex-Nevada)
to repair damaged screws in March, she spent the next five months conducting trial runs, dive tests and training operations out of New London. Following another yard period at Bridgeport in mid-July to replace defective lube pumps, the boat moved to New York City
on 30 August for final acceptance trials. Unfortunately, the breakdown of G-3s port engine disrupted her standardization trials in late September, prompting her move into the Navy Yard for repairs on 3 October. Difficulties in working in tight engine room spaces necessitated removing the port engine for repair and the boat remained immobile through the following spring. She finally put to sea on 1 June 1917 and returned to New London that same day.
Assigned to Division Two (Training and Experimental Division), Submarine Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet
, G-3 combined the training of new student crews in submarine operations and torpedo firing with experimental work as needed. The latter included harbor net defense deployment drills with tender in June and stationary dives with a submarine rescue bell in the Thames River
in September. In late October, G-3 carried out instructional sound work with , a task resumed in early 1918 in company with a succession of submarine chaser
s and patrol boats.
In May 1918, G-3 participated in submarine division maneuvers in Great Salt Pond Bay, including several two to five day cruises at sea. In early June, following warnings of German U-boat
s off the East Coast, G-3 conducted a number of periscope
and listening patrols in the region. These operations came to a sudden end on 13 June, when engine and battery
trouble forced the boat to sail to New York for spare parts. Returning to New London on 18 June, G-3 underwent an availability at the Thames Shipyard through mid-July.
Resuming school duties on 17 July, G-3 spent the next three months conducting torpedo instruction, listening and radio training for officer and enlisted submarine students. Following an engineering performance cruise to Boston, Massachusetts, in September, the boat conducted training operations through October. On 10 November, G-3 began preparations for an overhaul at the Submarine Base, New London, which lasted through April 1920. Although she returned to her familiar training and instruction duties in May, the boat was tapped for inactivation on 6 December.
G-3 was decommissioned at New London on 5 May 1921 and towed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 17 August. Having been stripped of machinery and fittings, the hulk was sold for scrap to Joseph G. Hitner
on 19 April 1922 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register
that same day.
United States G class submarine
The G class submarines were a class of four United States Navy submarines. While the four G-boats were nominally all of a class, they differed enough in significant details that they are sometimes considered to be four unique boats, each in a class by herself....
submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. While the four G-boats were nominally all of a class, they differed enough in significant details that they are sometimes considered to be four unique boats, each in a class by herself. G-3 was named Turbot when her keel was laid down on 30 March 1911 by the Lake Torpedo Boat
Lake Torpedo Boat
The Lake Torpedo Boat Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut was an early maker of submarines for the U.S. Navy. Founded by Simon Lake in 1912, the firm competed with John Philip Holland's Electric Boat Company until financial difficulties led to the company's demise in 1924.-External links:**...
Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, making her the first ship of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
to be named for the turbot
Turbot
The turbot is a species of flatfish in the family Scophthalmidae. It is native to marine or brackish waters of the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.-Etymology:...
, a large, brown and white flatfish, valued as a food. She was renamed G-3 on 17 November 1911, transferred to the New York Navy Yard for completion on 17 November 1913 following the cancellation of the Lake contract, launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 27 December 1913, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 22 March 1915 with Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Felix X. Gygax in command.
Service history
After fitting out, G-3 proceeded to Bridgeport, ConnecticutBridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
on 1 July to have sponson
Sponson
Sponsons are projections from the sides of a watercraft, for protection, stability, or the mounting of equipment such as armaments or lifeboats, etc...
s fitted to the boat to increase stability. During submerged test runs off Port Jefferson
Port Jefferson, New York
The Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson is located in the town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the 2000 United States Census, the village population was 7,837...
in Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
two weeks later, however, her crew discovered several leaks and the submersible docked at the Lake Company's marine railway for repairs and alterations. These modifications — which included work on the main engine oiling system as well as sponson installation — lasted until 8 January 1916. On that date, she sailed back to the New York Navy Yard to be inclined and undergo a deep submergence test. The latter took place off Eaton's Point, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, on 8 February, with Simon Lake
Simon Lake
Simon Lake was a Quaker American mechanical engineer and naval architect who obtained over two hundred patents for advances in naval design and competed with John Philip Holland to build the first submarines for the United States Navy.Born in Pleasantville, New Jersey, Lake joined his father's...
— owner of the Lake Torpedo Boat Company — embarked. The boat successfully completed a test dive to 198 ft (60.4 m) and was preliminarily accepted by the Navy that same day.
On 11 February, G-3 proceeded to New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, for initial shakedown operations. Aside from a brief period alongside submarine tender
Submarine tender
A submarine tender is a type of ship that supplies and supports submarines.Submarines are small compared to most oceangoing vessels, and generally do not have the ability to carry large amounts of food, fuel, torpedoes, and other supplies, nor to carry a full array of maintenance equipment and...
Tonopah (ex-Nevada)
USS Nevada (BM-8)
The first USS Nevada, a monitor, was laid down as Connecticut, 17 April 1899, by the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; launched 24 November 1900; sponsored by Miss Grace Boutelle; renamed Nevada, January 1901; and commissioned on 5 March 1903, Commander Thomas Benton Howard in command.On 2 March 1909,...
to repair damaged screws in March, she spent the next five months conducting trial runs, dive tests and training operations out of New London. Following another yard period at Bridgeport in mid-July to replace defective lube pumps, the boat moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on 30 August for final acceptance trials. Unfortunately, the breakdown of G-3s port engine disrupted her standardization trials in late September, prompting her move into the Navy Yard for repairs on 3 October. Difficulties in working in tight engine room spaces necessitated removing the port engine for repair and the boat remained immobile through the following spring. She finally put to sea on 1 June 1917 and returned to New London that same day.
Assigned to Division Two (Training and Experimental Division), Submarine Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
, G-3 combined the training of new student crews in submarine operations and torpedo firing with experimental work as needed. The latter included harbor net defense deployment drills with tender in June and stationary dives with a submarine rescue bell in the Thames River
Thames River (Connecticut)
The Thames River is a short river and tidal estuary in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It flows south for through eastern Connecticut from the junction of the Yantic and Shetucket rivers at Norwich, to New London and Groton, which flank its mouth at the Long Island Sound.Differing from its...
in September. In late October, G-3 carried out instructional sound work with , a task resumed in early 1918 in company with a succession of submarine chaser
Submarine chaser
A submarine chaser is a small and fast naval vessel specially intended for anti-submarine warfare. Although similar vessels were designed and used by many nations, this designation was most famously used by ships built by the United States of America...
s and patrol boats.
In May 1918, G-3 participated in submarine division maneuvers in Great Salt Pond Bay, including several two to five day cruises at sea. In early June, following warnings of German U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
s off the East Coast, G-3 conducted a number of periscope
Periscope
A periscope is an instrument for observation from a concealed position. In its simplest form it consists of a tube with mirrors at each end set parallel to each other at a 45-degree angle....
and listening patrols in the region. These operations came to a sudden end on 13 June, when engine and battery
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
trouble forced the boat to sail to New York for spare parts. Returning to New London on 18 June, G-3 underwent an availability at the Thames Shipyard through mid-July.
Resuming school duties on 17 July, G-3 spent the next three months conducting torpedo instruction, listening and radio training for officer and enlisted submarine students. Following an engineering performance cruise to Boston, Massachusetts, in September, the boat conducted training operations through October. On 10 November, G-3 began preparations for an overhaul at the Submarine Base, New London, which lasted through April 1920. Although she returned to her familiar training and instruction duties in May, the boat was tapped for inactivation on 6 December.
G-3 was decommissioned at New London on 5 May 1921 and towed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 17 August. Having been stripped of machinery and fittings, the hulk was sold for scrap to Joseph G. Hitner
Joseph G. Hitner
Joseph G. Hitner owned an iron works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.He purchased many United States Navy ships in the early 1900s, converting some of them to merchant ships and scrapping others.-References:...
on 19 April 1922 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
that same day.