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

(1969) Vol. 4, p.4.





L-11



SS-51

Displacement:

	Surfaced:  450 t.

	Submerged:  548 t.

Length:  167’5”

Beam:  17’5”

Draft:  13’7”

Speed:  

	Surfaced:  14 k.

	Submerged:  10.5 k.

Complement:  28

Armament:  1 3”; 4 18” torpedo tubes

Class:  L-1



	L-11 was laid down 17 February 1915 by Fore River 

Shipbuilding Co., Quincy, Mass.; launched 16 May 1916; 

sponsored by Miss Mary Richards Latimer; and commissioned 15 

August 1916, Lt. (j.g.) W. R. Carter in command.



	Assigned to the Atlantic Submarine Flotilla, L-11 

operated along the East Coast developing new techniques of 

undersea warfare until April 1917.  After America's entry 

into World War I, submarines were needed to protect Allied 

shipping lanes to Europe, and L-11 departed Boston 4 

December to undertake the task.  Following a period of 

patrol and repair in the Azores, the submarine arrived 

Ireland in mid-February 1918 to Join Submarine Division 5 in 

antisubmarine patrol off the British Isles.



	For the next 9 months, she ranged shipping lanes, 

sighting enemy U-boats on three occasions.  On 11 May, she 

made a torpedo attack on an enemy sub with inconclusive 

results.



	After the Armistice, L-11 operated out of Portland, 

England, until 3 January 1919 when she sailed for the United 

States.  Arriving Philadelphia 1 February, she operated off 

the East Coast for the next 4 years developing submarine 

warfare tactics.  L-11 decommissioned at Hampton Roads, Va., 

28 November 1923, and was scrapped 28 November 1933.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com