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Photo # NH 53830:  USS H-3 stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, circa 7-12 January 1917, with USS Milwaukee in the distance

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- The 1910s -- 1917

USS H-3 Salvage Attempts, January 1917

With the failure of the December 1916 effort to salvage the stranded submarine H-3, and the rejection of commercial bids for this task, the Pacific Fleet's Coast Torpedo Force decided to do the job itself. The big cruiser Milwaukee, the force flagship, had much more powerful engines than the ships used in December, and it was thought that she was capable of pulling H-3 off the sand, out through the surf and back to open water. On 7 January 1917 Milwaukee arrived off Samoa Beach, joining the monitor Cheyenne, tug Iroquois and Coast Guard cutter McCulloch. Over the next several days, after many attempts and the loss of one Sailor's life, a heavy steel towing cable was connected from H-3's bow to the stern of the cruiser, which was anchored several hundred yards offshore, just outside the surf zone.

A preliminary pull on 12 January moved the submarine a small distance from her position, which was awash when the tide was in, and nearly "high and dry" when it was out. The following night, the early hours of 13 January, would see the tide at its highest, and plans were made for an all-out effort at that time. Milwaukee's acting commanding officer, a submarine Lieutenant with very limited experience in both big ships and marine salvage, was aware of the risks presented by the strong currents, shallow water and the heavy surf so close to shore. He accordingly made arrangements to have Cheyenne and Iroquois pull the cruiser's bow northward, to counter the southward flow of the current, while Milwaukee put her full engine power into dragging the stranded submarine. (This story is continued on the next page)

This page features views concerning the efforts to salvage USS H-3 (Submarine # 30) during January 1917.

For more pictures of the loss of USS Milwaukee and the salvage of USS H-3, see:

  • Stranding of USS Milwaukee, 13 January 1917;
  • USS H-3 salvage efforts, February-March 1917; and
  • USS H-3 salvage efforts, April 1917.

    For views related to the stranding of this submarine in December 1916, see:

  • Stranding of USS H-3 and USS Milwaukee, and salvage of USS H-3, December 1916 - April 1917.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 53830

    USS H-3
    (Submarine # 30)

    Stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, during attempts to salvage her, circa 7-12 January 1917.
    USS Milwaukee (Cruiser # 21) is visible at the left.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53831

    USS H-3
    (Submarine # 30)

    Stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, during attempts to salvage her, circa 7-12 January 1917.
    Note Sailors working on the submarine, and the large crowd of onlookers.
    USS Milwaukee (Cruiser # 21) is visible in the right center distance.
    Photographed by the Freeman Art Company.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 570 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53829

    USS H-3
    (Submarine # 30)

    Surf pours over the stranded submarine, at Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, in January 1917.
    USS Milwaukee (Cruiser # 21), which was then attempting to salvage H-3, is visible in the left center distance. She went ashore herself on 13 January.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 410 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53823

    USS H-3
    (Submarine # 30)

    Stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, circa December 1916 - January 1917.
    Note the cables fitted to her bow during unsuccessful attempts to pull her off the beach.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 580 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 66223

    Stranding of USS H-3, December 1916


    USS H-3 (Submarine # 30) on Samoa Beach, California, probably on or about 13 January 1917, during the unsuccessful attempt by USS Milwaukee (Cruiser # 21) to pull the submarine off. Note the heavy cables extending seaward from H-3's bow.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Donation of Donald M. McPherson.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 460 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 66220

    Stranding of USS H-3, December 1916


    USS H-3 (Submarine # 30) aground on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, after she went ashore in mid-December 1916. Cables around H-3's hull and extending from her bow indicate that this view may have been taken on or about 13 January 1917, when USS Milwaukee (Cruiser # 21) was wrecked while attempting to pull the submarine off.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Donation of Donald M. McPherson.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 54KB; 740 x 465 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 66222

    Stranding of USS H-3, December 1916


    USS H-3 (Submarine # 30) seen from off her port quarter, after she went aground on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, in mid-December 1916. The heavy cable extending from H-3's bow indicates that this view may have been taken on or about 13 January 1917, when USS Milwaukee (Cruiser # 21) was wrecked while attempting to pull the submarine off.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Donation of Donald M. McPherson.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 465 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53834

    USS H-3
    (Submarine # 30)

    Stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, circa January 1917.
    Note lines attached to her bow during salvage attempts.
    Photographed by the Freeman Art Company.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 515 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53833

    USS H-3
    (Submarine # 30)

    Stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, circa January 1917.
    Note lines rigged to her during salvage attempts.
    Photographed by Freeman.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53828

    USS H-3
    (Submarine # 30)

    Seen from off her port quarter while stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, circa January 1917.
    The wreck of USS Milwaukee (Cruiser # 21), which had gone ashore on 13 January, is faintly visible in the left distance.
    Photographed by Freeman.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 535 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53832

    USS H-3
    (Submarine # 30)

    Halftone reproduction of a photo taken from off her port quarter, circa January 1917, while she was stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California.
    The wreck of USS Milwaukee (Cruiser # 21), which had gone ashore on 13 January, is visible in the left distance.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 485 pixels

     

    For more pictures of the loss of USS Milwaukee and the salvage of USS H-3, see:

  • Stranding of USS Milwaukee, 13 January 1917;
  • USS H-3 salvage efforts, February-March 1917; and
  • USS H-3 salvage efforts, April 1917.

    For views related to the stranding of this submarine in December 1916, see:

  • Stranding of USS H-3 and USS Milwaukee, and salvage of USS H-3, December 1916 - April 1917.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 31 May 2004
    Text revised 14 June 2004