USS G-3 (SS-31)

USS G-3 (SS-31) was a G-class submarine of the United States Navy. While the four G-boats were nominally all of a class, they differed enough in significant details that they are sometimes considered to be four unique boats, each in a class by herself. G-3 was named Turbot when her keel was laid down on 30 March 1911 by the Lake Torpedo Boat Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut, making her the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the turbot, a large, brown and white flatfish, valued as a food. She was renamed G-3 on 17 November 1911, transferred to the New York Navy Yard for completion on 17 November 1913 following the cancellation of the Lake contract, launched on 27 December 1913, and commissioned on 22 March 1915 with Lieutenant Felix X. Gygax in command.

Service history

After fitting out, G-3 proceeded to Bridgeport, Connecticut on 1 July to have sponsons fitted to the boat to increase stability. During submerged test runs off Port Jefferson in Long Island Sound two weeks later, however, her crew discovered several leaks and the submersible docked at the Lake Company's marine railway for repairs and alterations. These modifications — which included work on the main engine oiling system as well as sponson installation — lasted until 8 January 1916. On that date, she sailed back to the New York Navy Yard to be inclined and undergo a deep submergence test. The latter took place off Eaton's Point, Long Island, on 8 February, with Simon Lake — owner of the Lake Torpedo Boat Company — embarked. The boat successfully completed a test dive to 198 ft (60 m) and was preliminarily accepted by the Navy that same day.