- USS S-20 (SS-125)
USS "S-20" (SS-125) was a first-group ("S-1" or "Holland") "S"-class submarine of the
United States Navy . Her keel was laid down on15 August 1918 by theBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation inQuincy, Massachusetts . She was launched on9 June 1920 sponsored by Miss Anne Claggett Zell, and commissioned on22 November 1922 with Lieutenant John A. Brownell in command.In addition to duty in northeastern points out of
New London, Connecticut , from 1922 into 1929, the new submarine visitedCoco Solo in thePanama Canal Zone , in March 1923; served atSaint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands , in February 1924; and operated in thePanama Canal area from January through April 1926. "S-20" visitedKingston, Jamaica , from20 March to28 March 1927 , and served again in thePanama Canal area from17 April 1929 into November 1930. Departing Coco Solo on7 November , "S-20" arrived atPearl Harbor on7 December that year. Following duty there, she sailed on20 February 1932 and, from March of that year into April 1933, served atMare Island . Later, she operated mainly atSan Diego, California , into 1934. Departing San Diego on15 March , "S-20" returned to New London on28 October . From then into December 1941, she operated there as part of a test and evaluation division. During this period, she visited Guantanamo in February and March 1938; served in thePanama Canal area from January into March 1939; and visited Guantanamo again in February 1940.From December 1941 into July 1945, "S-20" continued to operate from New London. Her operations were off
New England and often included training activities atCasco Bay, Maine . Departing New London on2 July 1945 , "S-20" was decommissioned on16 July atPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania . Her name was struck from theNaval Vessel Register on25 July . She was sold on22 January 1946 toNorth American Smelting Company, Philadelphia, for scrapping.Modifications
"S-20" was rebuilt in 1924, with a larger bow (similar to that of the "V-1" class) to improve seakeeping and blisters on the upper hull to hold more fuel, but this modification was not repeated on any other members of the class."U.S. Submarines Through 1945" pp. 132] "U.S. Submarines Through 1945" pp. 137] "U.S. Submarines Through 1945" pp. 138] She was also used as an experimental engine test vessel, with a new high-speed geared-drive convert|600|hp|adj=on MAN diesel replacing her starboard engine in 1931.
In 1932, this new engine was replaced by a prototype
diesel-electric plant. This was a MAN-type convert|635|hp|adj=on 16-cylinder engine running at even higher speed, driving anelectrical generator , built by Electric Boat and designated 16VM1. Electricity produced by the generator was used to drive a high-speed electric motor geared to the shaft; there was no direct connection between the diesel engine and the shaft. Diesel-electric propulsion was then adopted for many U.S. submarines through World War II, starting with the 1932 "Porpoise" class; other navies did not follow suit until after the war."U.S. Submarines Through 1945" p. 198] "U.S. Submarines Through 1945" p. 259–261] "U.S. Submarines Through 1945" p. 359]References
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