>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1968) Vol. 3, pp.581-582.





K-5



SS-36

Displacement:

	Surfaced:  392 t.

	Submerged:  521 t.

Length:  153’7”

Beam:  16’8”

Draft:  13’1”

Speed:  

	Surfaced:  14 k.

	Submerged:  10.5 k.

Complement:  28

Armament:  4 18” torpedo tubes

Class:  K-1



	K-5 (SS-36) was launched 17 March 1914, by the Fore 

River Shipbuilding Co., Quincy, Mass., under a subcontract 

from the Electric Boat Co., Groton, Conn.; sponsored by Mrs. 

Warren G. Child; and commissioned 22 August, Lt. (j.g.) H. 

Gibson in command.



	K-5 departed Boston 16 November for Newport, R. I., 

where she joined the 4th Division, Atlantic Torpedo 

Flotilla, for experiments and exercises to develop the 

techniques of submarine warfare.  She operated for almost 3 

years along the Atlantic coast from New England to the Gulf 

of Mexico conducting underwater maneuvers, undergoing diving 

and torpedo firing practice, and training submariners.



	She departed New London, Conn., 12 October 1917, for 

duty in the Atlantic.  Steaming via Halifax, N.S., with K-1, 

K-2, and K-6, she arrived Ponta Delgada, Azores, 27 October 

for patrol duty.  As the first U. S. submarine to cruise 

European waters during the war, they operated out of the 

Azores searching for enemy U-boats and surface raiders.  K-5 

continued this important duty until 18 April 1918, when she 

headed home via Bermuda and Hampton Roads, Va., arriving 

Philadelphia 16 May.  Proceeding to New London 27 September, 

she departed for Key West, Fla., 7 January 1919, to resume 

development operations.



	K-5 operated in the Gulf of Mexico out of Key West and 

New Orleans.  After cruising the Mississippi River to St. 

Louis, Mo., she sailed from New Orleans 27 July 1919, for 

operations between Key West, Fla., and Havana, Cuba.  K-5 

departed Key West for Philadelphia 12 June 1920, arriving 

the 17th for overhaul.



	Repairs completed, she sailed to Hampton Roads, Va., 5 

March 1921 to continue coastal operations.  For almost 2 

years she ranged the eastern seaboard from Cape Cod to the 

Florida Keys, participating in numerous experiments and 

maneuvers to improve the operations and tactical abilities 

of the submarine.  Following diving trials off Cape Cod, K-5 

arrived Hampton Roads 7 September 1922.  She continued 

operations in the Chesapeake Bay, then decommissioned at 

Hampton Roads 20 February 1923.  Taken in tow to 

Philadelphia 13 November 1924, she was struck from the Navy 

List 18 December 1930.  She was sold for scrapping 3 June 

1931.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com