USS S - 49 ( SS - 160 ) USS " S - 49 " ( SS - 160 ) was a fourth - group ( " S - 48 " ) " S " - class submarine submarine of the United States Navy . Her keel was laid down on 22 October 1920 by the Lake Torpedo Boat Company in Bridgeport , Connecticut . She was launched on 23 April 1921 sponsored by Mrs . Joseph E . Austin , and commissioned on 6 June 1922 with Lieutenant Ingram C . Sowell in command . Service history . Commissioned at Bridgeport , " S - 49 " remained there through July , and , in August , moved down to the Submarine Base at New London , Connecticut , where she joined Submarine Division Zero , composed of units engaged in submarine research and development . Later reassigned to Division 4 and then to Division 2 , she continued experimental work , including aerial visibility tests and torpedo development , and also participated in regularly scheduled exercises , primarily in the New London area , into 1926 . At the end of January of that year , she proceeded to Portsmouth , New Hampshire , for a regular overhaul . On 2 April , she returned to New London ; but , eighteen days later , her operating schedule was again interrupted . At about 07 : 50 on Tuesday , 20 April , " S - 49 " ’ s engines were started . Seven minutes later , just as a pilot cell cover was removed to test the specific gravity of the electrolyte , the forward battery exploded . The hydrogen gas explosion destroyed the cells in the forward half of the battery and forced up the battery deck . Ten men were injured . Two others were gassed during rescue operations . Four of the twelve died of their injuries . The battery compartment was sealed and kept shut until mid - afternoon when the outboard battery vent was opened . During the night , the submarine took on a slight list to port and air pressure was used to keep ballast . At about 05 : 15 on 21 April , a second explosion occurred in the battery room when wash from vessels departing for torpedo practice rocked " S - 49 " . The compartment was resealed for another few hours , after which the work of clearing the wreckage was begun . Following repairs , " S - 49 " resumed operations off the New England coast , and in January 1927 , moved south , with , for exercises and tests off Key West , Florida , the Dry Tortugas , and in Tampa Bay . On 12 March , she returned to New London , whence she completed a run to Portsmouth and back before proceeding to Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , with " S - 50 " , for inactivation . Arriving on 31 March , she was decommissioned on 2 August and berthed with other reserve ships at League Island until struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 21 March 1931 in accordance with the London Naval Treaty . " S - 49 " was sold to the Boston Iron and Metal Company of Baltimore , Maryland , on 25 May 1931 . Reduced to a hulk by that company in 1936 , but not scrapped , the hulk was apparently reacquired seven years later , " as equipment , " for use in experimental work at the Naval Mine Warfare Proving Ground , Solomons , Maryland . Shortly after being towed to Solomons from Baltimore ( where the Navy had reacquired the submarine ) , the former S - 49 foundered off Point Patience in the Patuxent River on 16 December 1942 and sank in 102 feet of water at : Position : Latitude 38 Degrees 19 ' 53 . 2 " North Longitude 76 Degrees 29 ' 17 . 2 " West or , on a bearing of 318 . 5 Degrees True , distant 525 yards , from the southern tip of Point Patience . The S - boat has remained on the bottom at that position to the present day . . . and is visited , on occasion , by Navy and recreational divers . Courtesy of R . S . Rayfield , Jr . Major , USMC ( Ret )