The USS Moccasin (SS-5), also designated as A-4, was a Plunger-class submarine built for the United States Navy in the early 20th century. Laid down on November 8, 1900, at the Crescent Shipyard in Elizabethport, New Jersey, she was launched on August 20, 1901, and commissioned on January 17, 1903. The vessel was named after the moccasin snake and represented an improved version of the Holland-class submarines, featuring increased size and capabilities. Measuring 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), the USS Moccasin displaced approximately 107 long tons (109 tons) on the surface and 123 long tons (125 tons) when submerged. Her crew consisted of one officer and six enlisted men. She was powered on the surface by a 180-horsepower gasoline engine and a 70-horsepower electric motor for submerged operations, allowing her to reach speeds of up to 8 knots on the surface and 7 knots underwater. The submarine had a maximum diving depth of around 150 feet (45.7 meters). Her armament included a single 18-inch torpedo tube located in the bow, with four reloads for a total of five torpedoes. Initially assigned to the Naval Torpedo Station at Newport, Moccasin was primarily used for training and experimental activities. She ran aground in North Carolina’s Outer Banks in late 1903 but continued her service. In July 1909, she was loaded onto the collier Caesar for transport to the Philippines, arriving at Olongapo in October. Recommissioned there in February 1910, she was assigned to the First Submarine Division of the Asiatic Torpedo Fleet, based in Manila. She was renamed A-4 on November 17, 1911. During World War I, A-4 patrolled Manila Bay’s entrance and convoyed ships in the local waters. She was later placed in reserve and decommissioned at Cavite on December 12, 1919. Subsequently, she was designated as a target vessel with the identification number SS-5 on July 17, 1920, and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on January 16, 1922. The USS Moccasin/A-4 holds maritime significance as an early American submarine, contributing to the development and operational experience of US naval undersea warfare.

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