USS G - 3 ( SS - 31 ) USS " G - 3 " ( SS - 31 ) was a " G " - class submarine of the United States Navy . While the four G - boats were nominally all of a class , they differed enough in significant details that they are sometimes considered to be four unique boats , each in a class by herself . " G - 3 " was named Turbot when her keel was laid down on 30 March 1911 by the Lake Torpedo Boat Company in Bridgeport , Connecticut , making her the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the turbot , a large , brown and white flatfish , valued as a food . She was renamed " G - 3 " on 17 November 1911 , transferred to the New York Navy Yard for completion on 17 November 1913 following the cancellation of the Lake contract , launched on 27 December 1913 , and commissioned on 22 March 1915 with Lieutenant Felix X . Gygax in command . Service history . After fitting out , " G - 3 " proceeded to Bridgeport , Connecticut on 1 July to have sponsons fitted to the boat to increase stability . During submerged test runs off Port Jefferson in Long Island Sound two weeks later , however , her crew discovered several leaks and the submersible docked at the Lake Company ' s marine railway for repairs and alterations . These modifications — which included work on the main engine oiling system as well as sponson installation — lasted until 8 January 1916 . On that date , she sailed back to the New York Navy Yard to be inclined and undergo a deep submergence test . The latter took place off Eaton ' s Point , Long Island , on 8 February , with Simon Lake — owner of the Lake Torpedo Boat Company — embarked . The boat successfully completed a test dive to and was preliminarily accepted by the Navy that same day . On 11 February , " G - 3 " proceeded to New London , Connecticut , for initial shakedown operations . Aside from a brief period alongside submarine tender " Tonopah " ( ex - " Nevada " ) to repair damaged screws in March , she spent the next five months conducting trial runs , dive tests and training operations out of New London . Following another yard period at Bridgeport in mid - July to replace defective lube pumps , the boat moved to New York City on 30 August for final acceptance trials . Unfortunately , the breakdown of " G - 3 " s port engine disrupted her standardization trials in late September , prompting her move into the Navy Yard for repairs on 3 October . Difficulties in working in tight engine room spaces necessitated removing the port engine for repair and the boat remained immobile through the following spring . She finally put to sea on 1 June 1917 and returned to New London that same day . Assigned to Division Two ( Training and Experimental Division ) , Submarine Flotilla , Atlantic Fleet , " G - 3 " combined the training of new student crews in submarine operations and torpedo firing with experimental work as needed . The latter included harbor net defense deployment drills with tender in June and stationary dives with a submarine rescue bell in the Thames River in September . In late October , " G - 3 " carried out instructional sound work with , a task resumed in early 1918 in company with a succession of submarine chaser s and patrol boats . In May 1918 , " G - 3 " participated in submarine division maneuvers in Great Salt Pond Bay , including several two to five day cruises at sea . In early June , following warnings of German U - boat s off the East Coast , " G - 3 " conducted a number of periscope and listening patrols in the region . These operations came to a sudden end on 13 June , when engine and battery trouble forced the boat to sail to New York for spare parts . Returning to New London on 18 June , " G - 3 " underwent an availability at the Thames Shipyard through mid - July . Resuming school duties on 17 July , " G - 3 " spent the next three months conducting torpedo instruction , listening and radio training for officer and enlisted submarine students . Following an engineering performance cruise to Boston , Massachusetts , in September , the boat conducted training operations through October . On 10 November , " G - 3 " began preparations for an overhaul at the Submarine Base , New London , which lasted through April 1920 . Although she returned to her familiar training and instruction duties in May , the boat was tapped for inactivation on 6 December . " G - 3 " was decommissioned at New London on 5 May 1921 and towed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 17 August . Having been stripped of machinery and fittings , the hulk was sold for scrap to Joseph G . Hitner on 19 April 1922 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register that same day .