USS ''N-4'' (SS-56) was a
N-class coastal defense
submarine
A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...
of the
United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on 24 March 1915 by
Lake Torpedo Boat Company in
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the List of municipalities in Connecticut, most populous city and a major port in the U.S. state of Connecticut. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is also the List of cities by population in New England, fifth-most populous ...
. The N-boats built by Lake had slightly different specifications from the ones built by
Seattle Construction and Drydock
The Seattle Construction and Drydock Company was a shipbuilding company based in Seattle, Washington (state), Washington. Between 1911 and 1918, it produced a substantial number of ships for both commercial and military uses.
History
Formally ...
and are sometimes considered a separate class.
''N-4'' was
launched on 27 November 1916 sponsored by Miss Dorothy H. Elliott, and
commissioned at
New York Navy Yard
The Brooklyn Navy Yard (originally known as the New York Navy Yard) is a shipyard and industrial complex located in northwest Brooklyn in New York City, New York (state), New York. The Navy Yard is located on the East River in Wallabout Bay, a ...
on 15 June 1918.
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, Connecticut, 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. The signing of the
Armistice with Germany found this submarine 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.
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. Taken out of reserve in early September, ''N-4'' sailed for
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 15 September for extensive overhaul until 28 March 1921. 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. Tug then towed the hulk of ''N-4'' to Philadelphia. She arrived on 13 April 1922, and was decommissioned on 22 April. The submarine was sold for scrapping on 25 September to
Joseph G. Hitner Henry A. Hitner's Sons Company owned an iron works in Philadelphia.
The company was established by Henry Adam Hitner and incorporated on 28 December 1906. It purchased many retired United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the ma ...
of Philadelphia.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:N-04 (SS-56)
United States N-class submarines
World War I submarines of the United States
Ships built in Bridgeport, Connecticut
1917 ships