The N-boats built by Lake differ considerably from their EB brethren, but are of a similar size and have the same military characteristics and therefore are considered the same class.

[4] For surface running, the Electric Boat submarines were powered by two 240-brake-horsepower (179 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft.

The previous classes used piping-and-canvas temporary bridges for extended surface runs; these were found to be inadequate on North Atlantic patrols in World War I.

The coastal patrol nature of the small N-class submarines was emphasized by their lack of a deck gun.

The seven submarines of the N-class were: Commissioned after the American entry into World War I, they were assigned to the 1st Naval District, primarily operating from Naval Submarine Base New London with some boats operating out of New York City at times, all patrolling the New England coast.

The Seattle boats were decommissioned in 1926 and scrapped in 1931 to comply with the limits of the London Naval Treaty.