USS Plunger, a 107-ton Holland-type submarine built at Elizabethport, New Jersey, was commissioned in September 1903. She served on experimental torpedo duties at Newport, Rhode Island, until 1905. In August of that year Plunger was visited by President Theodore Roosevelt, who thus became the first U.S. Chief Executive to dive in a submarine. Out of commission from November 1905 until February 1907, Plunger was then based at the New York Navy Yard for two years and, beginning in October 1909, operated out of the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina. She was a unit of the Reserve Torpedo Flotilla after April 1910. The submarine was renamed A-1 in November 1911 and stricken from the Navy list in February 1913. Later used as a target, her hulk was sold for scrapping in January 1922.
This page features all the views we have of USS Plunger (Submarine # 2), which was renamed A-1 in 1911.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 42621 USS Plunger (Submarine # 2) outboard of USS Shark (Submarine # 8) At the Electric Boat Company facility, New Suffolk, Long Island, New York, in 1902. Note the surface navigation lights of these two submarines, and their differing superstructure arrangements. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 600 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 45937 Electric Boat Company/Holland Torpedo Boat Company facility, New Suffolk, Long Island, New York Submarines in the facility basin, circa 1903. Boats in the front group are (from left to right): In the background, by the breakwater are (left-right): Photographed by Legendre & Levick, New York. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 580 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 85293 USS Plunger (Submarine # 2) At the New York Navy Yard, circa 1903. USS Massachusetts (Battleship # 2) is under refit in the background. Published on a stereograph card by the Keystone View Company, circa 1918. Courtesy of Commander Donald J. Robinson, USN(MSC), 1977 U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 101KB; 630 x 675 pixels A stereo pair version of this image is available as Photo # NH 85293-A Online Image of stereo pair: 77KB; 675 x 355 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 42622 USS Plunger (Submarine # 2) Hauled out of the water, during the early 1900s. Note the bollard in the foreground, made from an old muzzle-loading cannon. Courtesy of the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 600 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 102428 USS Plunger (Submarine Torpedo Boat # 2) Hauled out of the water at a Navy yard, circa 1903-1905. USS Alabama (Battleship # 8) is in the right background. Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cahn, 1990. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 530 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 85735 USS Plunger (Submarine # 2) Officer in the submarine's conning tower hatch, circa the early 1900s. Published on a contemporary picture postal card. Courtesy of Alfred Cellier, 1977. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 565 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 62730 USS Plunger (Submarine # 2) Alongside a coal dock at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., July 1906. The names of three of the submarine's Commanding Officers are written on the print: Lieutenants C.P. Nelson, P.P. Bassett and C.W. Nimitz. The print was presented to Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz by Chief Torpedoman's Mate H.J. Chagnot, USN (Retired), who wrote on its reverse: "Admiral Nimitz: Remember this old battle wagon? As I remember it you were skipper of it after 'Juggie" Nelson. You may keep this for yourself if you see fit. Sorry to hear about English he was my skipper on the old 'D-3' and O-4." Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 119KB; 740 x 590 pixels |
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Photo #: 19-N-15-28-7 New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York Submarines Shark (Submarine # 8), Plunger (Submarine # 2) and Porpoise (Submarine # 7) housed over and covered with snow, in one of the Navy Yard's drydocks, 25 January 1908. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 145KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 42620 USS Plunger (Submarine # 2) Underway off the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., circa 1909. Note the coal-handling facility in the center background. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 530 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 49357-KN (color) USS Plunger (Submarine # 2) Underway off the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., circa 1909. This print is autographed in red ink by Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, who was one of Plunger's Commanding Officers. The image, unautographed, is Photo # NH 42620. Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
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If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 11 June 2003
New image added 28 February 2004