The L-class boats designed by Lake Torpedo Boat (L-5 through L-8) were built to slightly different specifications from the other L boats, which were designed by Electric Boat, and are sometimes considered a separate L-5 class. The Lake boats had a length of 165 feet (50.3 m) overall, a beam of 14 feet 9 inches (4.5 m) and a mean draft of 13 feet 3 inches (4.0 m). They displaced 451 long tons (458 t) on the surface and 527 long tons (535 t) submerged. The L-class submarines had a crew of 28 officers and enlisted men. They had a diving depth of 200 feet (61.0 m).[1]
For surface running, the boats were powered by two 600-brake-horsepower (447 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 400-horsepower (298 kW) electric motor. They could reach 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) on the surface and 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) underwater. On the surface, the Lake boats had a range of 5,150 nautical miles (9,540 km; 5,930 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)[1] and 150 nmi (280 km; 170 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged.[2]
After exercises along the West Coast, L-6 departed Pacific waters on 20 April 1918, arriving Charleston, South Carolina, on 10 June. Following a brief overhaul, the submarine patrolled off Charleston until she sailed on 15 October for the eastern Atlantic. Arriving Ponta Delgada, Azores, in early November, L-6 joined Submarine Division 6 just prior to the signing of the Armistice with Germany on 11 November.
After making stops in Caribbean Sea and Central American ports, L-6 arrived San Pedro, California, on 14 February 1919, completing one of the best long-distance seagoing performances of the United States's youthful submarine force. From 1919 to 1922, she remained on the West Coast, experimenting with new torpedoes and undersea detection equipment. L-6 was placed in commission, in ordinary, on 24 March 1922; returned to full commission on 1 July; and sailed for the East Coast the same month. Upon arrival Hampton Roads, L-6 decommissioned on 25 November 1922, and was sold to M. Samuel and Sons on 21 December 1925 for scrapping.
Friedman, Norman (1995). U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-55750-263-3.
Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-85177-245-5.
Photo gallery of USS L-6 at NavSource Naval History
April 10, 2024
class, submarine, built, united, states, navy, during, 1910s, possibly, california, shipbuilding, company, long, beach, california, 1917, historyunited, statesnamebuildercraig, shipbuilding, long, beach, californialaid, down27, 1914launched31, august, 1916comm. USS L 6 SS 45 was an L class submarine built for the United States Navy during the 1910s USS L 6 possibly at the California Shipbuilding Company at Long Beach California in 1917 HistoryUnited StatesNameUSS L 6BuilderCraig Shipbuilding Long Beach CaliforniaLaid down27 May 1914Launched31 August 1916Commissioned7 December 1917Decommissioned25 November 1922FateSold for scrap 21 December 1925General characteristicsClass and typeL class submarineDisplacement451 long tons 458 t surfaced 527 long tons 535 t submergedLength165 ft 50 m Beam14 ft 9 in 4 50 m Draft13 ft 3 in 4 04 m Installed power1 200 bhp 890 kW diesel 800 hp 600 kW electric Propulsion2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed14 knots 26 km h 16 mph surfaced 10 5 knots 19 4 km h 12 1 mph submergedRange3 300 nmi 6 100 km 3 800 mi at 11 knots 20 km h 13 mph on the surface 150 nmi 280 km 170 mi at 5 knots 9 3 km h 5 8 mph submergedTest depth200 feet 61 0 m Complement28 officers and enlisted menArmament4 bow 18 inch 450 mm torpedo tubes 1 3 23 caliber deck gun Contents 1 Description 2 Construction and career 3 Service history 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksDescription editThe L class boats designed by Lake Torpedo Boat L 5 through L 8 were built to slightly different specifications from the other L boats which were designed by Electric Boat and are sometimes considered a separate L 5 class The Lake boats had a length of 165 feet 50 3 m overall a beam of 14 feet 9 inches 4 5 m and a mean draft of 13 feet 3 inches 4 0 m They displaced 451 long tons 458 t on the surface and 527 long tons 535 t submerged The L class submarines had a crew of 28 officers and enlisted men They had a diving depth of 200 feet 61 0 m 1 For surface running the boats were powered by two 600 brake horsepower 447 kW diesel engines each driving one propeller shaft When submerged each propeller was driven by a 400 horsepower 298 kW electric motor They could reach 14 knots 26 km h 16 mph on the surface and 10 5 knots 19 4 km h 12 1 mph underwater On the surface the Lake boats had a range of 5 150 nautical miles 9 540 km 5 930 mi at 11 knots 20 km h 13 mph 1 and 150 nmi 280 km 170 mi at 5 knots 9 3 km h 5 8 mph submerged 2 The boats were armed with four 18 inch 450 mm torpedo tubes in the bow They carried four reloads for a total of eight torpedoes The L class submarines were also armed with a single 3 50 caliber deck gun 2 Construction and career editL 6 s keel was laid down on 27 May 1914 by Craig Shipbuilding Company in Long Beach California L 6 was launched on 31 August 1916 sponsored by Mrs William R Monroe and commissioned on 7 December 1917 Service history edit nbsp USS L 6 USS L 8 and USS L 7 possibly at Ponta Delgada in the Azores with Submarine Division 6 in early November 1918 After exercises along the West Coast L 6 departed Pacific waters on 20 April 1918 arriving Charleston South Carolina on 10 June Following a brief overhaul the submarine patrolled off Charleston until she sailed on 15 October for the eastern Atlantic Arriving Ponta Delgada Azores in early November L 6 joined Submarine Division 6 just prior to the signing of the Armistice with Germany on 11 November After making stops in Caribbean Sea and Central American ports L 6 arrived San Pedro California on 14 February 1919 completing one of the best long distance seagoing performances of the United States s youthful submarine force From 1919 to 1922 she remained on the West Coast experimenting with new torpedoes and undersea detection equipment L 6 was placed in commission in ordinary on 24 March 1922 returned to full commission on 1 July and sailed for the East Coast the same month Upon arrival Hampton Roads L 6 decommissioned on 25 November 1922 and was sold to M Samuel and Sons on 21 December 1925 for scrapping Notes edit a b Friedman p 307 a b Gardiner amp Gray p 129References editFriedman Norman 1995 U S Submarines Through 1945 An Illustrated Design History Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 263 3 Gardiner Robert amp Gray Randal eds 1985 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1906 1921 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 85177 245 5 This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here External links editPhoto gallery of USS L 6 at NavSource Naval History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS L 6 amp oldid 1152847081, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
