USS L-7
USS L-7 , also known as "Submarine No. 46", was an [United States United States L-class submarine|L-class submarine|L-class] submarine of the United States Navy. She worked on exercises off the West Coast, prior to sailing to the Azores, during WWI. After the war she transferred back to the Pacific, where she worked with experimental torpedoes and underwater detection equipment.
Design
The L-class boats designed by Lake Torpedo Boat were built to slightly different specifications from the other L boats, which were designed by Electric Boat, and are sometimes considered a separate L-5 class. The Lake boats had a length of overall, a beam of, and a mean draft of. They displaced on the surface and submerged. The L-class submarines had a crew of two officers and 28 enlisted men. They had a diving depth of.For surface running, the boats were powered by two Busch-Sulzer diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a electric motor. They could reach on the surface and underwater. On the surface, the Lake boats had a range of, at, and, at, submerged.
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. The L-class submarines were also armed with a single /23 caliber on a disappearing mount.
Construction
L-7s keel was laid down on 2 June 1914, by Craig Shipbuilding Company, in Long Beach, California. L-7 was launched on 28 September 1916, sponsored by Mrs. William B. Forgarty, and commissioned on 7 December 1917.Service history
After shakedown, L-7 departed the West Coast, on 20 April 1918, arriving in Charleston, South Carolina, on 10 June.Patrolling off Charleston until 15 October 1918, the submarine finally steamed for the waters of Europe, to battle the U-boats. Arriving at Ponta Delgada, Azores, early in November, she joined Submarine Division 6. for anti-submarine warfare operations. The Armistice with Germany, of 11 November 1918, ended World War I, and L-7 sailed for home on 19 November.
Following stops at Caribbean and Central American ports, the submarine arrived at San Pedro, California, on 14 February 1919, completing one of the best long distance seagoing performances of America's youthful submarine force.