USS Adder (SS-3)

USS "Adder" (SS-3) (later renamed "A-2"), a "Plunger"-class submarine, was one of the earliest submarines used by the United States Navy. She was laid down under the supervision of naval architect Arthur Leopold Busch on 3 October 1900 by the Crescent Shipyard, launched on 22 July 1901, and commissioned on 12 January 1903 at the Holland yard at New Suffolk, with Ensign Frank L. Pinney in command.

After initial experimental duty at the Naval Torpedo Station at Newport, "Adder" was towed to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard by the tug "Peoria", arriving there on 4 December 1903. In January 1904, the submarine torpedo boat was assigned to the Reserve Torpedo Flotilla. Placed out of commission on 26 July 1909, "Adder" was loaded on board the collier, "Caesar", and was transported to the Philippine Islands, arriving there on 1 October 1909.

Recommissioned on 10 February 1910, she was assigned to duty with the 1st Submarine Division, Asiatic Torpedo Fleet. Over almost a decade, the submarine torpedo boat operated from Cavite and Olongapo, principally in training and experimental work. During this time, she was renamed on 17 November 1911, becoming simply "A-2".

During World War I, she carried out patrols off the entrance to Manila Bay, and around the island of Corregidor. Decommissioned on 12 December 1919, "A-2" (assigned the alphanumeric hull number SS-3 on 17 July 1920) was designated for use as a target on 24 September 1920. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 16 January 1922.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-a/ss3.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Adder" Photos]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08003.htm navsource.org: USS "Adder"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/submar/ss3.htm hazegray.org: USS "Adder"]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/crescent.htm] Information on Lewis Nixon's Crescent Shipyard, location of John P. Holland's site of operations in New Jersey.