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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 67740-A:  USS Falcon off New York City, 29 April 1939

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Falcon (AM-28, later ASR-2), 1918-1947

USS Falcon, a 950-ton Lapwing class minesweeper, was built at Morris Heights, New York. Commissioned in November 1918, she served along the U.S. east coast until mid-1919, when she deployed to Scotland to assist in clearing the North Sea Mine Barrage. Falcon returned to the United States in November 1919, but returned to European waters in March-August 1920. She was permanently assigned to submarine salvage duties in 1921, after completing salvage work on USS S-5 (SS-110) during that year. In 1925, Falcon briefly deployed to the Pacific, steaming as far west as Hawaii before returning to her usual Atlantic coast station.

In 1925-1928, Falcon assisted in the salvage of the sunken submarines S-51 (SS-162) and S-4 (SS-109). During the later 1920s and into the 1930s, she supported the development of more advanced submarine salvage and rescue techniques as well as acting as tender for submarines operating off the U.S. coast and in the Caribbean. In January 1936, some fifteen years after being given the job function, Falcon was formally reclassified as a submarine rescue ship and redesignated ASR-2. In May 1939, she was urgently called north from her base at New London, Connecticut, to assist in rescuing crewmen from USS Squalus (SS-192), which had accidently sunk off Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on 23 May. After successfully accomplishing that mission, Falcon supported the salvage of the submarine.

A year after the Squalus operation, Falcon was again called on for submarine rescue and salvage work, this time on USS O-9 (SS-70), which sank off Portsmouth on 20 June 1940. However, the lost submarine was too deep to be recovered without undue risk to divers. For the next five years, Falcon operated out of New London, Connecticut, providing training, towing and diving support for the greatly expanded World War II submarine force. She also deployed briefly to Argentia, Newfoundland, in mid-1943. Decommissioned in June 1946, USS Falcon was sold in March 1947.

This page features, or provides links to, all the views we have concerning USS Falcon.

For additional photographs of USS Falcon, taken during the Squalus rescue and salvage operations, see:

  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Rescue of Crew, May 1939; and
  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Salvage, June-September 1939.


     

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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

    Photo #: NH 54138

    USS Falcon (AM-28)


    Photograph taken circa 1919. Note the ship's number ("28") painted on her smokestack and bow.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 54140

    USS Falcon (AM-28)


    Photographed off Pensacola, Florida, 23 December 1924. Note the small triangular sails rigged to her masts.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 54139

    USS Falcon (AM-28)


    Photograph received in 1932. It was taken during the 1920s or early 1930s, while Falcon was serving as a submarine rescue ship but still retained her original hull number. Note the submarine rescue ship "fish" symbol painted on her bow.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 67740-A

    USS Falcon (ASR-2)


    Off New York City, 29 April 1939.

    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 450 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 45786

    G-102

    (German Destroyer, 1915)

    Is escorted to a U.S. port by USS Falcon (AM-28), in 1919-20. G102, which had been turned over to the United States as war reparations, was later expended as a target.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 69222

    USS S-51 (SS-162)


    Photograph dated 7 July 1926, showing S-51 being towed to the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, supported by salvage pontoons. The submarine's conning tower is visible between the middle pair of pontoons. USS Falcon (AM-28) is assisting from the rear of the tow.
    S-51 had been sunk in a collision off Block Island, New York, on 25 September 1925, with the loss of all but three of her crew.

    Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, San Francisco, California, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 495 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 41831

    Commander Harold E. Saunders, USN
    (left center)

    Turning on the air lines, attached to the sunken submarine S-4 (SS-109), to force her to the surface during salvage operations off Provincetown, Massachusetts, where she had been sunk in collision with USCGC Paulding on 17 December 1927. Original caption gives this photo's date as 19 March 1928, but it may have been taken somewhat earlier.
    Probably photographed on board USS Falcon (AM-28).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 41832

    USS S-4
    (SS-109)

    Being towed to the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, after being raised off Provincetown, Massachusetts, where she had been sunk in collision with USCGC Paulding on 17 December 1927. Original caption gives this photo's date as 19 March 1928, but it may have been taken the day before.
    Note the salvage pontoons supporting S-4, four located forward and two aft.
    The ship immediately astern of S-4 is probably USS Falcon (AM-28).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 178KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 784

    USS S-4 (SS-109)


    Those who accomplished the most in the salvaging operations on the S-4. They are (from left to right, in front):
    Saunders, who was in charge of the raising of the sunken submarine;
    Captain Ernest J. King; and
    Lieutenant Henry Hartley, Commanding Officer of USS Falcon (ASR-2).
    Photographed circa March 1928.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 68837

    USS S-4 (SS-109)


    Photograph dated 14 December 1928, taken in port with USS Falcon (AM-28) alongside.
    The original caption reads: "The submarine S-4 just one year after she sank with a loss of forty lives. The repaired craft will be sent to the bottom without anyone aboard at Block Island, New London, Connecticut, to test out various safety devices developed as a result of the S-4 and S-51 disasters."
    Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, San Francisco, California, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 69221

    USS S-4 (SS-109)


    Photograph dated 20 December 1928, during salvage tests off New London, Connecticut. She is being supported by salvage pontoons, with USS Falcon (AM-28) assisting from alongside and a U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat off her bow.

    Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, San Francisco, California, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 580 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 57508

    USS Squalus (SS-192) Rescue Operations, May 1939


    USS Wandank (AT-26), at left, and USS Falcon (ASR-2) moored over the sunken Squalus, during rescue operations, circa 24 May 1939.
    The McCann Rescue Chamber, which brought 33 of the submarine's crewmen to safety, is visible on Falcon's after deck.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: USN 1149022

    Salvage of USS Squalus (SS-192), 1939


    USS Falcon (ASR-2) moored over the sunken Squalus, during salvage operations off the New Hampshire coast in the Summer of 1939.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1149022.

     

    For additional photographs of USS Falcon, taken during the Squalus rescue and salvage operations, see:

  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Rescue of Crew, May 1939; and
  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Salvage, June-September 1939.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 11 July 2000
    New images added 14 October 2005