The USS Grampus (SS-4), initially designated as "Submarine Torpedo Boat No. 4," was a Plunger-class submarine built for the United States Navy. Constructed by Union Iron Works in San Francisco, her keel was laid on December 10, 1900, and she was launched on July 31, 1902. She was commissioned at Mare Island Navy Yard on May 28, 1903. The vessel measured approximately 63 feet 10 inches (19.5 meters) in length, with a beam of 11 feet 11 inches (3.6 meters) and a mean draft of 10 feet 7 inches (3.2 meters). She displaced about 107 long tons (109 metric tons) on the surface and 123 long tons (125 metric tons) submerged. Her crew consisted of one officer and six enlisted men, and she was capable of diving to a depth of 150 feet (45.7 meters). Powered by a 180-horsepower gasoline engine for surface travel and a 70-horsepower electric motor when submerged, the USS Grampus could reach speeds of 8 knots on the surface and 7 knots underwater. Her armament was modest, featuring a single 18-inch (457 mm) torpedo tube at the bow, with four reloads, totaling five torpedoes. During her early service, Grampus operated primarily out of San Francisco for training and experimental purposes. She notably participated in relief efforts following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. She was first decommissioned at Mare Island on November 28, 1906, but was later recommissioned on June 13, 1908. She was assigned to the First Submarine Division of the Pacific Torpedo Flotilla and the Pacific Fleet, operating along the California coast until she was placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet in June 1912. On November 17, 1911, she was renamed A-3. In February 1915, she was transported as deck cargo aboard the collier Hector to the Philippines, arriving at Olongapo on March 26. Recommissioned at Olongapo on April 17, 1915, A-3 served with the Asiatic Fleet, patrolling the waters off Manila Bay during World War I. She was designated hull number SS-4 on July 17, 1920. The vessel was eventually dismantled and used as a target by ships of the Asiatic Fleet, and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on January 16, 1922. The USS Grampus/A-3 holds significance as an early American submarine, contributing to the development of U.S. undersea warfare capabilities.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.