View source for USS O-7

{{Short description|O-class submarine of the United States}}
{{Redirect|O-7|the pay grade|U.S. uniformed services pay grades|the motorway in Turkey|Otoyol 7}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
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|Ship image=USS O-7.jpg
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|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag= {{USN flag|1945}}
|Ship name=''O-7''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=3 March 1916
|Ship builder=[[Fore River Shipbuilding]] Company, [[Quincy, Massachusetts]]
|Ship laid down=14 February 1917
|Ship launched=16 December 1917
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=4 July 1918
|Ship decommissioned=1 July 1931
}}
{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship recommissioned=12 February 1941
|Ship decommissioned=2 July 1945
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=11 July 1945
|Ship renamed=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honors=
|Ship fate= Sold for scrap, 22 January 1946
|Ship notes=
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Header caption=
|Ship type= [[United States O-class submarine|O-class]] [[submarine]]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|521|LT|t|0}} surfaced
*{{convert|629|LT|t|0}} submerged
|Ship length= {{convert|172|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|18|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship draft= {{convert|14|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship power=*{{convert|880|bhp|kW|lk=in|abbr=on}} (diesel)
*{{convert|740|hp|kW|abbr=on}} (electric)
|Ship propulsion=*2 × [[diesel engine]]s
*2 × [[electric motor]]s
|Ship speed=*{{convert|14|kn|lk=in}} surfaced
*{{convert|10.5|kn}} submerged
|Ship range={{convert|5500|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|11.5|kn}} on the surface
|Ship test depth={{convert|200|ft|1}}
|Ship complement=2 officers, 27 enlisted
|Ship armament=*4 × [[American 18-inch torpedo|18-inch (450 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s
*1 × [[3"/50 caliber gun|3"/50 caliber]] [[deck gun]]
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''USS ''O-7'' (SS-68)''' was one of 16 [[United States O-class submarine|O-class]] [[submarine]]s built for the [[United States Navy]] during World War I.
==Description==
The O-class submarines were designed to meet a Navy requirement for coastal defense boats.<ref>Friedman, pp. 86–87</ref> The submarines had a length of {{convert|172|ft|3|in|m|1}} [[length overall|overall]], a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|18|ft|1|in|m|1}} and a mean [[draft (ship)|draft]] of {{convert|14|ft|5|in|m|1}}. They [[displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|521|LT|t}} on the surface and {{convert|629|LT|t}} submerged. The O-class submarines had a crew of 29 officers and enlisted men. They had a diving depth of {{convert|200|ft|1}}.<ref name=gg9>Gardiner & Gray, p. 129</ref>
For surface running, the boats were powered by two {{convert|440|bhp|lk=in|0|adj=on}} [[diesel engine]]s, each driving one [[propeller shaft]]. When submerged each propeller was driven by a {{convert|370|hp|0|adj=on}} [[electric motor]]. They could reach {{convert|14|kn|lk=in}} on the surface and {{convert|10.5|kn}} underwater. On the surface, the O class had a range of {{convert|5500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|11.5|kn}}.<ref name=gg9/>
The boats were armed with four [[American 18-inch torpedo|18-inch (450 mm)]]  [[torpedo tube]]s in the bow. They carried four reloads, for a total of eight torpedoes. The O-class submarines were also armed with a single [[3"/50 caliber gun|3"/50 caliber]] [[deck gun]].<ref name=gg9/>
==Construction and career==
''O-7'' was laid down on 14 February 1917 by the [[Fore River Shipbuilding]] Company in [[Quincy, Massachusetts]]. She was [[ship naming and launching|launched]] on 16 December 1917 sponsored by Mrs. Constance Sears, and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 4 July 1918 with Lieutenant Commander [[Frederick C. Sherman]], in command. During the final stages of [[World War I]], ''O-7'' operated out of [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], on coastal patrol from [[Cape Cod]] to [[Key West, Florida]]. On 2 November she departed [[Newport, Rhode Island]], with a 20-sub contingent bound for [[Europe]]an waters, however, the  [[Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)|Armistice with Germany]] was signed before the ships reached the [[Azores]], and they returned to the [[United States]].
In 1919, ''O-7'' reported to the newly established [[Naval Submarine Base New London|Submarine School]] at [[New London, Connecticut]], to train there for the next decade. In 1924, she went to [[Coco Solo]] for maneuvers and was reclassified a second line submarine on 25 July 1924.  Returning to New London, she reverted to first line on 6 June 1928. In January 1930, she joined her sister ships in a run to [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]], thence back to New London in February.  After returning from [[Washington, DC]]. in July, she continued operations at New London. She sailed to [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], on 23 February 1931 and decommissioned there on 1 July 1931.
After a decade in mothballs, ''O-7'' was recalled to active duty and recommissioned at Philadelphia 12 February 1941.  She reported to New London in May and trained sub crews there until the end of [[World War II]]. ''O-7'' was decommissioned on 2 July 1945; was struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on 11 July 1945; and sold to [[North American Smelting]] Company of Philadelphia on 22 January 1946.
==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}
==References==
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1995|isbn=1-55750-263-3}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Gardiner|editor1-first=Robert|editor2-last=Gray|editor2-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921|year=1985|location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=0-85177-245-5|name-list-style=amp}}
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/o-7.html}}
==External links==
* {{navsource|08/08068|USS O-7}}
{{United States O class submarine}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:O-07}}
[[Category:United States O-class submarines]]
[[Category:World War I submarines of the United States]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in Quincy, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:1917 ships]]