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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Viper / B-1 (SS-10)

B Class Submarine: Laid down, 5 September 1905, at Fore River Shipbuilding Co., Quincy, MA.; Launched, 30 March 1907; Commissioned USS Viper, 18 October 1907; Decommissioned, 30 November 1909, at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, SC; Recommissioned, 15 April 1910; Decommissioned, 9 May 1911, at Chaleston; Renamed USS B-2, 17 November 1911; Recommissioned, 26 March 1915,at Olongapo, PI; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 1 December 1921; Final Disposition, sunk as a target.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced 145 t., Submerged 173 t.; Length 82' 5"; Beam 12' 6"; Draft 10' 7"; Speed, surfaced 9 kts, submerged 8 kts; Complement, 1 Officer 9 Enlisted; Armament, two 18" torpedo tubes, four torpedoes; Propulsion, gasoline-electric, Craig Shipbuilding Co. gasoline engines, 250 hp, Fuel Capacity, 1,880 gals, Electro Dynamic Co., electric motors, Battery Cells 60, single propeller.

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
103k	The three B-boats(SS-10/12) (Inboard) Cuttlefish (SS-11), Tarantula (SS-12), and Viper (SS-10) share a snowy dry dock at the New York Navy Yard, 25 January 1907. Note that each one still has a single fixed periscope, with a flagstaff above it. Boats running submerged flew flags on these staffs to warn surface ships against running them down. Note, too, the running lights affixed to boards on the foremasts.	Collection of Rear. Admiral Henry Williams. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Through 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. Naval Institute Press.
221k	The B *Viper class: Viper* (SS-10), Cuttlefish (SS-11),& Tarantula (SS-12), the ultimate development of the single screw *Holland* design, introduced a much more extensive superstructure for sea keeping. As designed, *Viper* had only the single periscope shown, as in *Plunger*, it was let into the conning tower. A second (hull) periscope was later added. Engine gearing had been abandoned, the propleller shaft no longer coincided precisley with the axis of the hull. Air compressors and main bilge pumps were driven from the main shaft via cluthces and gears; they could be operated by either the motor or the engine. Note that, in a boat this small, a reload torpedo occupied much of the hull.	Collection of Rear. Admiral Henry Williams. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Through 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. Naval Institute Press.
470k	Viper (SS-10), Cuttlefish (SS-11) and Tarantula (SS-12) lie together in dry dock at the New York Navy Yard, January 25, 1908.	NARA (National Archives and Record Administration) photo # 19N15-28-6, courtesy of Daniel Dunham.
319k	In New York Harbor for the 1909 naval review, with the New York & Cuba Mail docks in the background the Viper (SS-10) shows both her periscopes and a substantial false bow (superstructure) above her pressure hull. There were few limber holes because these boats were not expected to dive quickly. Note the temporary bridge for surface navigation.	US Navy photo by Enrique Muller, from NARA # 19N13457, courtesy of Daniel Dunham. Text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Through 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. Naval Institute Press.
102k	Viper (SS-10) in port, with members of her crew on deck, circa 1907-1911. B-3, Tarantula (SS-12) is behind her.	U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 38.
109k	Cuttlefish (SS-11), Tarantula (SS-12), and Viper (SS-10) In port, circa 1909.	U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 29.
87k	Photo of the Viper (SS-10), possibly with the Reserve Torpedo Group at Charleston Navy Yard. Photo is inscribed with "Friend George" & "KID BUSTER", " B-1 (SS-10)", addressed to Clarence Isaiah Maxson, circa 1911-12. Note the # 11 on her periscope shears.	Photo courtesy of Vern Maxson, LCDR(SS), USNR-Retd, partial text courtesy of DANFS.
117k	Photo entitled U.S. Submarine.. The submarines are probably the Viper (SS-10), Cuttlefish (SS-11), and Tarantula (SS-12) between 1908 and 1919. Note the #'s 11, 13 & 14 on their periscope shears. The numbers are not indicative of their hull numbers but inducate the squadron they belong to.	Digital ID # 19799, LC-F81-2433. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, National Photo Company Collection. Photo added 11/09/08.
67k	B-1 (SS-10), (inboard) & B-2(SS-11) at the Cavite Naval Base, Phillipines, 1916.	Photo courtesy of Vern Maxson, LCDR(SS), USNR-Ret.
66k	Crew of the B-1 (SS-10), at the Cavite Naval Base, Phillipines, 1916.	Photo courtesy of Vern Maxson, LCDR(SS), USNR-Ret.
80k	A-7 (SS-08) right B-1, (SS-10), center. In Philippine waters, during the Nineteen-"Teens". Both show the submarine bells used for underwater communication ( *B-1's* is on her foredeck, *A-7's* abaft her conning tower). Note how rudimentary their bridges were.	U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 69710. Text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Through 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. Naval Institute Press.

View the Viper / B-1 (SS-10)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Not Applicable to this Vessel

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Through the Looking Glass, a Historic Look at Submarines

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