▁two ▁ ▁dies el ▁engines , ▁each ▁driving ▁one ▁prop eller ▁sh aft . ▁When ▁sub mer ged ▁each ▁prop eller ▁was ▁driven ▁by ▁a ▁ ▁electric ▁motor . ▁They ▁could ▁reach ▁ ▁on ▁the ▁surface ▁and ▁ ▁under water . ▁On ▁the ▁surface , ▁the ▁O ▁class ▁had ▁a ▁range ▁of ▁ ▁at ▁. ▁ ▁The ▁boats ▁were ▁armed ▁with ▁four ▁ 1 8 ▁in ch ▁( 4 5 0 ▁mm ) ▁ ▁tor ped o ▁tub es ▁in ▁the ▁bow . ▁They ▁carried ▁four ▁re loads , ▁for ▁a ▁total ▁of ▁eight ▁tor ped o es . ▁The ▁O - class ▁sub mar ines ▁were ▁also ▁armed ▁with ▁a ▁single ▁ 3 "/ 5 0 ▁cal iber ▁deck ▁gun . ▁ ▁Const ruction ▁and ▁career ▁ ▁O - 1 ▁was ▁laid ▁down ▁on ▁ 2 6 ▁March ▁ 1 9 1 7 ▁at ▁the ▁Port sm outh ▁Navy ▁Y ard ▁in ▁K itter y , ▁Maine . ▁ ▁She ▁was ▁launched ▁on ▁ 9 ▁July ▁ 1 9 1 8 , ▁and ▁commission ed ▁on ▁ 5 ▁November ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁with ▁Lieutenant ▁Commander ▁Norman ▁L . ▁Kirk ▁in ▁command . ▁Commission ed ▁just ▁before ▁the ▁Arm ist ice ▁with ▁Germany , ▁O - 1 ▁operated ▁in ▁the ▁Atlantic ▁coast al ▁waters ▁from ▁Cape ▁C od ▁to ▁Key ▁West , ▁Florida , ▁after ▁World ▁War ▁I . ▁Rec lass ified ▁a ▁second - line ▁sub marine ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁July ▁ 1 9 2 4 , ▁and ▁first