USS S-11 (SS 116) was GOVERNMENT design
She was built by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard;
Her keel was laid 2 December, 1919;
She was launched 7 February, 1921;
Her Sponsor was Miss A. E. Roosevelt;
She was commissioned 11 January, 1923;
Her first Skipper was LT Wilder D. Baker;
Final fate - decommissioned 30 September, 1936; recommissioned at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on 6 September, 1940 and S-11 conducted defensive patrols out of Trinidad, Guantanamo Bay and Panama during World War II. On 5 August, 1942 S-11 was assigned to SubRon 3 based at Coco Solo, LCDR S. G. Barchet, commanding. On 18 May, 1945 S-11 was decommissioned at Philadelphia Naval Yard and stricken from the Navy list, sold to Rosoff Brothers (New York) for scrapping.

Patrols - During World War II, S-11 conducted 6 patrols, all under the command of W. B. Perkins.

WP#	DATES	Fm AREA	To AREA	DURATION	SINKINGS
1	unknown	PA Atlantic	PA Atlantic	20 days	None
2	unknown	PA Atlantic	PA Atlantic	15 days	None
3	unknown	PA Atlantic	PA Atlantic	17 days	None
4	unknown	PA Atlantic	PA Atlantic	?? days	None
5	unknown	PA Atlantic	PA Atlantic	19 days	None
6	unknown	PA Atlantic	PA Atlantic	17 days	None

NOTE: MILES GRAHAM (521-1988) adds a little information about S-11 that most assuredly is NOT in her logbook.

MILES writes: "Not all events were recorded in the ship's log. Here is a true story.

Some time in the first month or so of 1944, the threat of the Japanese attempting anything in the way of an attack on the Panama Canal being over, we transited the Canal from the Pacific to the Atlantic and in short order, was sent to Trinidad in the British West Indies. We had a close call on the way and had to stop in Aruba for a few days, but that's another story. In Trinidad, we acted as a target for anti-submarine forces, both surface and air.

As was the custom when these old boats were going to be around for a while, the crew was assigned quarters in a barracks and only the duty section (usually one third of the crew) would stay aboard at night. A Duty Officer and a CPO was also part of the section. The idea was that the Duty Section could get the ship underway, charge batteries or handle anything that might come up.

Once, after a day's operation, the C.O. and other officers proceeded to the base "O" Club where they were joined by some officers from the air station. At some point during the course of the evening, a wager was made that called for the boat to submerge alongside of the pier.

The Captain and his entourage, including an Airdale Lieutenant, arrived back at the ship. The Duty Section awakened, and the ship was rigged for dive. The brow taken in, lines cast off, the diving alarm sounded - and we submerged!

Apparently, no one noticed anything amiss, and it was not until daylight the next morning not only the off-duty members of the crew was on the dock, but members of the base, including firemen, police and others. No one knew what had happened or what to do. The conning tower hatch was underwater about two feet. Someone jumped over on the boat and tried to bang on the hatch. At about 6 O'Clock the Captain surfaced the boat, put over the brow. The Airdale went ashore after he paid off the bet. We took on the rest of the crew and got underway for the days ops. So much for one night on the S-11."

MILES, thanks a million for this great history. And to you other Sub Vets, please give us your little stories like this so they may be saved for history. Thanks in advance.