SS X-1

History
United States
Name	USS X-1
Builder	Fairchild Aircraft, East Farmingdale Long Island, New York
Laid down	8 June 1954
Launched	7 September 1955
Commissioned	(never commissioned)
In service	7 October 1955
Out of service	2 December 1957
In service	December 1960
Out of service	16 February 1973
Fate	Museum ship
General characteristics
Type	Midget submarine
Displacement	36.3 long tons (37 t) submerged 31.5 long tons (32 t) surfaced
Length	49 ft 6 in (15.09 m)
Beam	7 ft (2.1 m)
Draft	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Propulsion	Hydrogen peroxide/diesel engine and battery system Converted to diesel-electric drive after May 1957
Complement	10
Armament	None

X-1 (or SS X-1)^[1] was one of the United States Navy's only Midget Submarines (but see the NR-1 Deep Submergence Craft). She was designed under project SCB 65; laid down on 8 June 1954, at Deer Park, Long Island, New York, by the Engine Division of Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation; launched on 7 September 1955, at Oyster Bay, Long Island, by Jakobson Shipyard; delivered to the Navy on 6 October at New London, Connecticut, and placed in service on 7 October 1955, with Lieutenant Kevin Hanlon in command.

Service history[]

X-1 served in a research capacity in rigorous and extensive tests to assist the Navy to evaluate its ability to defend harbors against very small submarines. Further tests conducted with the X-1 helped to determine the offensive capabilities and limitations of this type of submersible.^[2]

X-1 was originally powered by a hydrogen peroxide/diesel engine and battery system, but an explosion of her hydrogen peroxide supply on 20 May 1957 resulted in the craft's modification to accept a diesel-electric drive. On 2 December 1957, X-1 was taken out of service and deactivated at Philadelphia.

Towed to Annapolis, Maryland, in December 1960, X-1 was reactivated and attached to Submarine Squadron 6 and based at the Small Craft Facility of the Severn River Command for experimental duties in Chesapeake Bay. In tests conducted under the auspices of the Naval Research Laboratory, X-1 performed for scientists who observed her operations from a platform suspended beneath the Bay Bridge, to learn more about the properties and actions of sea water.

Having been in active service through January 1973, X-1 was again taken out of service on 16 February 1973. On 26 April 1973, she was transferred to the Naval Ship Research and Development Center, Annapolis. On 9 July 1974, she was slated for use as a historical exhibit; and she was later displayed on the grounds of the Naval Station complex, North Severn, near Annapolis. In 2001, X-1 was transferred to the Submarine Force Museum, in Groton, Connecticut, where she is on display in front of the main exhibit building.

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  X-1 Midget Submarine on display at the Submarine Force Library and Museum

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  The stern section of X-1

Toy Version[]

The Lionel 3330 "Commando" submarine is based on the X-1's design. LIONEL TRAINS 3330

References[]

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to X-1 (submarine, 1955).

• Submarine Force Museum
• SS X-1 at Historic Naval Ships Association

Coordinates: 41°23′15″N 72°05′14″W / 41.387616°N 72.087323°W / 41.387616; -72.087323