USS O-16 (SS-77)

USS O-16 (SS-77) was an O-class submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on 7 October 1916 by California Shipbuilding Company in Long Beach, California.

The later O-boats (O-11 through O-16) were designed by Lake Torpedo Boat to different specifications from the earlier ones designed by Electric Boat. They performed much less well, and are sometimes considered a separate class.

O-16 was launched on 9 February 1918 sponsored by Mrs. I. H. Mayfield, and commissioned on 1 August 1918 with Lieutenant W. M. Quigley in command.

Service history
Commissioning during the final months of World War I, O-16 had little wartime duty. After the war, she reported to Cape May, New Jersey, where she went into dry-dock on 20 September 1919. In October, the boat sailed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where a dangerous fire in her superstructure on 29 December was brought under control before it did major damage.

In 1922, O-16 was stationed at Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, for diving tests and maneuvers. She cruised in formation with USS O-12 (SS-73), USS O-14 (SS-75), USS O-15 (SS-76), and submarine tender USS Bushnell (AS-2) to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on 26 January, and continued maneuvers in and around the Virgin Islands. In April, she returned to Coco Solo, where electricians and engineers put her in prime condition.

In November 1923, O-16 sailed to Philadelphia, where she decommissioned on 21 June 1924 after just five and a half years of service, and was turned over to the Commandant, Navy Yard, Philadelphia. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 9 May 1930, the boat was scrapped in accordance with the London Naval Treaty on 30 July 1930.