USS C-3 (SS-14)

For other ships of the same name, see USS Tarpon.
The USS C-3 underway, 1909.
Career
Name: USS Tarpon
Builder: Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts
Launched: 8 April 1909
Commissioned: 23 November 1909
Decommissioned: 23 December 1919
Renamed: C-3, 17 November 1911
Fate: Sold for scrap, 12 April 1920
General characteristics
Class and type:C-class submarine
Displacement:238 long tons (242 t) surfaced
275 long tons (279 t) submerged[1]
Length:105 ft 4 in (32.11 m)
Beam:13 ft 11 in (4.24 m)
Draft:10 ft (3.0 m)
Propulsion:Craig gasoline engines
electric motors
2 × shafts
Speed:10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h) surfaced
9 kn (10 mph; 17 km/h) submerged[1]
Complement:15 officers and enlisted
Armament:2 × 18 in (460 mm) bow torpedo tubes (4 torpedoes)[1]

USS C-3 (SS-14) was a C-class submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down by Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts, under a subcontract from Electric Boat Company, as Tarpon. She was launched on 8 April 1909 as Tarpon sponsored by Miss Katherine E. Theiss, and commissioned on 23 November 1909 with Lieutenant P. P. Bassett in command. She was renamed C-3 on 17 November 1911.

SS-14 being launched in 1909

Tarpon cruised along the east coast with the Atlantic Torpedo Fleet and the Atlantic Submarine Flotilla through the spring of 1913, operating in tests and exercises. From May–December 1913, she was based at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and on 12 December reported at Cristóbal, Panama Canal Zone. Her operations included exploration of anchorages, tactical drills, and harbor defense patrol at Canal Zone ports. In the summer of 1918, she patrolled off Florida, then returned to Panamanian waters. C-3 was placed in ordinary at Coco Solo Canal Zone on 22 August 1919, decommissioned there on 23 December 1919, and sold on 12 April 1920.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. Illustrated Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century Weapons and Warfare (London: Phoebus, 1978), Volume 19, p.2037, "Octopus".

External links