USSS-49

History
United States
Name	USSS-49
Builder	Lake Torpedo BoatCompany,Bridgeport,Connecticut
Laid down	22 October 1920
Launched	23 April 1921
Sponsored by	Mrs. Joseph E. Austin
Commissioned	6 June 1922
Decommissioned	2 August 1927
Stricken	21 March 1931
Fate	Sold 25 May 1931 Sank 16 December 1942
General characteristics
Class and type	S-classsubmarine
Displacement	993 long tons (1,009 t) surfaced 1,230 long tons (1,250 t) submerged
Length	240 ft (73 m)
Beam	21 ft 10 in (6.65 m)
Draft	13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Speed	14.6knots(16.8 mph; 27.0 km/h) surfaced 11 knots (13 mph; 20 km/h) submerged
Complement	38 officers and men
Armament	1 ×4 in (102 mm)/50deck gun 5 ×21 inch (533 mm)torpedo tubes

USSS-49(SS-160)was a fourth-group (S-48)S-class submarineof theUnited States Navy.

Construction and commissioning

S-49'skeelwaslaid downon 22 October 1920 by theLake Torpedo BoatCompany inBridgeport,Connecticut.She waslaunchedon 23 April 1921, sponsored by Mrs. Joseph E. Austin, andcommissionedat Bridgeport on 6 June 1922 withLieutenantIngram C. Sowellin command.

Service history

S-49remained at Bridgeport through July 1922, but in August 1922 she moved down to the Submarine Base atNew London,Connecticut, where she joined SubmarineDivisionZero, composed of units engaged in submarine research and development.Later reassigned to Submarine Division 4 and then to Submarine Division 2, she continued experimental work, including aerial visibility tests andtorpedodevelopment, and also participated in regularly scheduled exercises, primarily in the New London area, into 1926. At the end of January 1926, she proceeded toPortsmouth Navy YardatKittery,Maine,for a regular overhaul.

On 2 April 1926,S-49returned to New London, but on 20 April 1926 her operating schedule was again interrupted. At about 07:50 that morning,S-49’s engines were started. Seven minutes later, just as a pilot cell cover was removed to test thespecific gravityof theelectrolyte,the forwardbatteryexploded. Thehydrogen gasexplosion destroyed thebattery cellsin the forward half of the battery and forced up the battery deck. Ten men were injured, two others were gassed during rescue operations, and four of the twelve died of their injuries. The battery compartment was sealed and kept shut until mid-afternoon on 20 April, when the outboard battery vent was opened. During the night, the submarine took on a slightlisttoportandS-49′s crew usedair pressureto keep ballast. At about 05:15 on 21 April, a second explosion occurred in thebattery roomwhen wash from vessels departing for torpedo practice rockedS-49.The compartment was resealed for another few hours, after which the work of clearing the wreckage was begun.

Following repairs,S-49resumed operations off theNew Englandcoast, and in January 1927 moved south with the submarineUSSS-50for exercises and tests offKey West,Florida,theDry Tortugas,and inTampa Bayon the coast of Florida. On 12 March 1927 she returned to New London, from which she completed a run toPortsmouth,New Hampshire,and back before proceeding toPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,withS-50,for inactivation. Arriving on 31 March 1927, she wasdecommissionedon 2 Augus1927 t and berthed with other reserve ships atLeague Islandin Philadelphia until struck from theNaval Vessel Registeron 21 March 1931 in accordance with theLondon Naval Treaty.S-49was sold to theBoston Iron and MetalCompany ofBaltimore,Maryland,on 25 May 1931.

Sinking

The U.S. Navy apparently reacquiredS-49about 1941 at Baltimore "as equipment" for use in experimental work at the Naval Mine Warfare Proving Ground,Solomons,Maryland.During this work, she sank on 16 December 1942 in 102 feet (31 m) of water in thePatuxent Riverat38°19′53.2″N076°29′17.2″Won a bearing of 318.5 degrees true, distant 525 yards (480 m), from the southern tip ofPoint Patience,Maryland.

External links

• Navsource.org- Features several photos ofS-49.