USS S-12
USS S-12 was a part of the second-group of S-3-class, also referred to as a "Modified Government"-type, submarine of the United States Navy.
Design
With lessons learned with the earlier boats, and studies on German U-boats, changes were incorporated into the remaining "Government"-type boats that had not been laid down yet. A stern mounted torpedo tube was added in the aft of the boat, along with the modified bow planes first tested on and.The "Modified Government"-type had a length of overall, a beam of, and a mean draft of. They displaced on the surface and submerged. All S-class submarines had a crew of 4 officers and 34 enlisted men, when first commissioned. They had a diving depth of.
For surface running, the "Modified Government"-type were powered by two MAN S6V45/42 diesel engines built by the New York Navy Yard, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a Westinghouse Electric Corporation electric motor. They could reach on the surface and underwater. On the surface, the modified S-3-class had a range of at, or at, if fuel was loaded into their main ballast tanks.
The boats were armed with four [American 21-inch torpedo|] torpedo tubes in the bow and one the stern. They carried 9 reloads, for a total of fourteen torpedoes. The "Modified Government"-type submarines were also armed with a single /50 caliber deck gun.
The Bureau of Construction & Repair was given the job of correcting the "Government"-type's slow diving times. To accomplish this, starting with S-8 and S-9, they moved the bow planes below the water line and rigged them to be permanently in the out position. Due to the success of these modification, to and to, would also be outfitted with the new planes.
Construction
S-12s keel was laid down on 8 January 1920, by the Portsmouth Navy Yard, in Kittery, Maine. She was launched on 4 August 1921, sponsored by Mrs. Charlotte Woodbury, wife of the former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Gordon Woodbury, and commissioned on 30 April 1923, with future Admiral, Lieutenant Francis S. Low, in command.Service history
1923–1936
Following duty along the northeast coast in 1923, and a visit to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, from 19 April to 24 April 1924, S-12 resumed duty in New England waters. Sailing from New London, Connecticut, on 15 November 1924, via the Panama Canal and California, she visited Hawaii from 24 April to 25 May 1925, before returning to New London, on 12 July.In addition to service in the northeast through 1928, S-12 operated in the Panama Canal area, from January through April 1926; visited Kingston, Jamaica, from 20 March to 28 March 1927; and served again in the Panama Canal area, from February into April 1928. From 1929 into 1936, S-12 served almost exclusively in the Panama Canal area, although she visited Baltimore, Maryland, from 15 May to 5 June 1933, and New London, from 15 May to 1 June 1935.
Departing Coco Solo, on 13 June 1936, S-12 decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, on 30 September 1936.