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The first of the S-boats, S-1 was launched on 26 September 1918 at the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, which was acting as subcontractor for Electric Boat, but not commissioned until 5 June 1920. After a shakedown cruise to Bermuda, she operated out of New London until 1923.

In late 1923, S-1 was modified by the addition of a steel seaplane hanger abaft the conning tower. A Martin MS-1 collapsable seaplane was housed in the hanger. This could be brought out, assembled, and launched by flooding down until the deck was awash. The experiments were continued through 1926.

S-1 was deactivated at Philadelphia on 20 October 1937.

Recommissioned on 16 October 1940 as part of the pre-war buildup, S-1 served on training duty until the U.S. entry into World War II. She was transferred to the Royal Navy on 20 April 1942, and stricken from the Navy List on 24 June 1942.

Renamed HMS P-552, she served in the Royal Navy until 16 October 1944, when she was returned to U.S. jurisdiction at Durban, South Africa. She was not physically returned to the United States, but was stripped for parts and her hull sold on 20 July 1945. She was scrapped at Durban in September of that year.