USS B-3 (SS-12) was one of three B-class submarines built for the United States Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.

[2] For surface running, they were powered by one 240-brake-horsepower (179 kW) gasoline engine that drove the single propeller shaft.

On 6 December 1912, B-3 was towed to Norfolk, Virginia, and loaded onto the collier Ajax for transfer to the Asiatic Station.

She was recommissioned on 2 September and remained in the Philippines where she served with Submarine Division 4, Torpedo Flotilla, Asiatic Fleet.

They then retrofitted the gasoline powered engines and motors in the Cavite Navy Yard shop readying the subs for a 48-hour shake down cruise.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.