The USS S-4 was a United States Navy submarine, part of the S-class, launched on December 1, 1923. It was designed for coastal defense and had a displacement of 1,200 tons when submerged. The submarine was equipped with four torpedo tubes and could carry a crew of around 40 men. On December 17, 1927, the USS S-4 sank after a collision with the Coast Guard cutter USS Paulding. The incident occurred off the coast of Massachusetts, leading to the tragic loss of 34 crew members. The submarine was later salvaged in 1928, but the event highlighted the dangers of submarine operations.