USS N-4
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates
Template:Infobox ship imageTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship characteristicsUSS N-4 (SS-56), also known as "Submarine No. 56", was an N-class coastal submarine of the United States Navy commissioned during World War I. She spent the war patrolling off the coast of New England, and was decommissioned after less than four years in service.
Design
The N-class boats designed by Electric Boat, N-1 throughN-3, also referred to as the N-1-class, were built to slightly different specifications from the other N-class submarines, which were designed by Lake Torpedo Boat, referred to as the N-4-class. The Lake submarines had a length of Template:Cvt overall, a beam of Template:Cvt, and a mean draft of Template:Convert. They displaced Template:Convert on the surface and Template:Cvt submerged. The Lake submarines had a crew of 3 officers and 26 enlisted men. They had a diving depth of Template:Cvt.Template:Sfn
For surface running, the Lake submarines were powered by two Template:Convert Busch-Sulzer diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a Template:Convert Diehl electric motor. They could reach Template:Convert on the surface and Template:Cvt underwater.Template:Sfn
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.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
Construction
N-4Template:'s keel was laid down on 24 March 1915, by the Lake Torpedo Boat Company, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She was launched on 27 November 1916, sponsored by Miss Dorothy Hastings Elliott, and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard, on 15 June 1918.Template:Sfn
Service history
Departing New York, on 25 June 1918, N-4 proceeded to the New London Submarine Base for outfitting and then she proceeded to the Torpedo Station, at Newport, Rhode Island. Returning to New London, on 11 July, she once again departed on 28 July, to patrol along the New England coast and guard coastal shipping against German U-boats. Alternating out of New London and New York City, she continued this duty until 3 November.Template:Sfn
The signing of the Armistice with Germany found N-4 tied up at New London, where, but for a training cruise to Salem, Massachusetts, and Portland, Maine, from 14 July to 30 September 1919, she remained until 1920.Template:Sfn
During the first half of 1920, N-4 made short voyages to New York and Newport, before she was placed in reserve at New London, on 7 June 1920. Her identification number was changed from "Submarine No. 56" to SS-56 on 17 July 1920. Taken out of reserve in early September, N-4 sailed for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 15 September, for extensive overhaul until 28 March 1921.Template:Sfn
Fate
Returning to New London in early April, she operated off the New England coast, out of Newport and New London, until she put into New London, on 6 December, to have her main engines removed and transferred to a newer L-class submarine. The fleet tug Template:USS then towed the hulk of N-4 to Philadelphia.Template:Sfn
She arrived on 13 April 1922, and was decommissioned on 22 April. The submarine was sold for scrapping on 25 September 1922, to Joseph G. Hitner, of Philadelphia.Template:Sfn
References
Bibliography
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