L-3's keel was laid down on 18 April 1914 by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts.
She was launched on 15 March 1915 sponsored by Mrs. Lew Morton Atkins, and commissioned on 22 April 1916 with Lieutenant (junior grade) D. J. Friedell in command.
Assigned to the Atlantic Submarine Flotilla, L-3 operated along the Atlantic coast from New England to Florida developing new techniques of undersea warfare, until April 1917.

 
Following the United States's entry into World War I, the submarine protected Allied shipping lanes to the European countries.
Departing New London, Connecticut, on 27 November, L-3 sailed for the Azores via Bermuda arriving Ponta Delgada on 13 January 1918.
One month later, she was dispatched to the British Isles for patrol duty out of Berehaven, Bantry Bay, Ireland, to protect Allied shipping losses from U-boat attacks.

Remaining in British waters throughout the war, L-3 departed the Isle of Portland, England, on 3 January 1919 for the United States, arriving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 1 February.
For the next two years, the submarine operated along the East Coast, performing experiments and developing submarine warfare tactics.
L-3 was placed in commission, in ordinary, on 1 June 1921 at Philadelphia, and returned to full commission on 26 January 1922.
After operations out of New London, Connecticut, for 14 months, the submarine arrived Norfolk, Virginia, on 21 April 1923.
 L-3 decommissioned at Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 11 June 1923.
She was scrapped, and her material was sold on 28 November 1933 in accordance with the London Naval Treaty.
L-3's keel was laid down on 18 April 1914 by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on 15 March 1915 sponsored by Mrs. Lew Morton Atkins, and commissioned on 22 April 1916 with Lieutenant (junior grade) D. J. Friedell in command. Assigned to the Atlantic Submarine Flotilla, L-3 operated along the Atlantic coast from New England to Florida developing new techniques of undersea warfare, until April 1917.
 
Following the United States's entry into World War I, the submarine protected Allied shipping lanes to the European countries. Departing New London, Connecticut, on 27 November, L-3 sailed for the Azores via Bermuda arriving Ponta Delgada on 13 January 1918. One month later, she was dispatched to the British Isles for patrol duty out of Berehaven, Bantry Bay, Ireland, to protect Allied shipping losses from U-boat attacks.
Remaining in British waters throughout the war, L-3 departed the Isle of Portland, England, on 3 January 1919 for the United States, arriving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 1 February. For the next two years, the submarine operated along the East Coast, performing experiments and developing submarine warfare tactics. L-3 was placed in commission, in ordinary, on 1 June 1921 at Philadelphia, and returned to full commission on 26 January 1922. After operations out of New London, Connecticut, for 14 months, the submarine arrived Norfolk, Virginia, on 21 April 1923.  L-3 decommissioned at Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 11 June 1923. She was scrapped, and her material was sold on 28 November 1933 in accordance with the London Naval Treaty.
USS L-3 (SS-42)