United States B-class submarine

USS Tarantula, underway near the New York Navy Yard, 1909
Class overview
Builders
Operators United States Navy
Preceded byPlunger class
Succeeded byC class
Built1906–1907
In commission1907–1921
Completed3
Retired3
General characteristics
Class & typemidget submarine
Displacement
  • 145 long tons (147 t) surfaced
  • 173 long tons (176 t) submerged
Length82 ft 6 in (25.15 m)
Beam12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
Draft10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
Installed power
  • 250 bhp (190 kW) surfaced
  • 150 bhp (110 kW) submerged
Propulsion
Speed
  • kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) surfaced
  • 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range
  • 540 nmi (1,000 km; 620 mi) surfaced
  • 12 nmi (22 km; 14 mi) submerged
Test depth150 ft (46 m)
Complement
  • 1 officer
  • 9 enlisted
Armament2 × 18 inch (450 mm) bow torpedo tubes (4 torpedoes)

The B-class submarines were three United States Navy submarines built by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, in Quincy, Massachusetts, under a subcontract from the Electric Boat Company. They were eventually stationed in the Philippines, an American possession, beginning in 1912–1915. They were shipped there on colliers. All three were stricken and expended as targets 1919–1922.