USS L-10

The L-class boats designed by Electric Boat (L-1 to L-4 and L-9 to L-11) were built to slightly different specifications from the other L boats, which were designed by Lake Torpedo Boat, and are sometimes considered a separate class. The Electric Boat submarines had a length of 168 feet 6 inches (51.4 m) overall, a beam of 17 feet 5 inches (5.3 m) and a mean draft of 13 feet 7 inches (4.1 m). They displaced 450 long tons (460 t) on the surface and 548 long tons (557 t) submerged. The L-class submarines had a crew of 28 officers and enlisted men. They had a diving depth of 200 feet (61.0 m).[1]

For surface running, the Electric Boat submarines were powered by two 450-brake-horsepower (336 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 170-horsepower (127 kW) electric motor. They could reach 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) on the surface and 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) underwater. On the surface, the boats had a range of 5,150 nautical miles (9,540 km; 5,930 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)[1] and 150 nmi (280 km; 170 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged.[2]

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 Electric Boat submarines were initially not fitted with a deck gun; a single 3"/50 caliber gun on a disappearing mount was added during the war.[2]

L-10's keel was laid down on 17 February 1915 by Fore River Shipbuilding Company of Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on 16 March 1916 sponsored by Miss Catherine Rush, and commissioned on 2 August 1916.

L-class submarines USS L-3, USS L-11, USS L-10, USS L-4, and USS L-9 alongside their submarine tender in British waters in 1918. The "A" (for "American") was added to avoid confusion with British L-class submarines.

Assigned to the Atlantic Submarine Flotilla, L-10 operated along the United States East Coast until April 1917 developing new techniques or undersea warfare.

Following the United States's entry into World War I, submarines were needed to protect Allied shipping lanes to Europe. After an extensive overhaul, preparing her for the task ahead, L-10 departed Newport, Rhode Island, on 4 December, reaching the Azores on 19 December. She patrolled waters off the Azores for the next month before joining Submarine Division 5 in the British Isles in January 1918. Based in Britain throughout the rest of the war, L-10 and the other ships of her division conducted anti-U-boat patrols.

After the Armistice with Germany on 11 November, L-10 remained in England until sailing for the United States on 3 January 1919. Arriving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 1 February, the submarine operated along the Atlantic coast for the next four years, developing submarine warfare tactics. L-10 decommissioned at Philadelphia on 5 May 1922, and was sold on 31 July 1922 to Joseph G. Hitner of Philadelphia.

The commanding officer of L-10, Lieutenant Commander James C. Van de Carr, received the Navy Cross for his services during World War I.

The Navy Cross is awarded to Lieutenant Commander James C. Van de Carr, U.S. Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession in command of the AL-10. While en route from Newport to the Azores, the submarine which he commanded was separated from the escort and the other submarines of the squadron, leaving him without a rendezvous. He thereupon proceeded to destination successfully, assuming the great responsibility of starting a 1,700-mile Atlantic Ocean run in winter weather and in a submarine of a class that had never been considered reliable under such conditions. He later performed creditable submarine patrol service within the war zone.

• Friedman, Norman (1995). U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-263-3.
• Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

• Photo gallery of USS L-10 at NavSource Naval History