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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 99234:  USS F-1 in a West Coast harbor, 1912

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

USS F-1 (Submarine Number 20), 1912-1917.
Name changed from Carp while under construction

USS F-1, first of a class of four 330-ton submarines, was built at San Francisco, California. Launched in September 1911 as USS Carp, she was renamed F-1 in November 1911 and placed in commission in June 1912. The submarine spent her entire career in the Pacific, mainly off the West Coast, but was based at Honolulu, Hawaii, between July 1914 and November 1915. She was laid up in March 1916 and returned to active service in June 1917, a few months after the United States entered World War I. On 17 December 1917, while underway off California, USS F-1 collided with her sister, USS F-3. Her hull torn open amidships, she rapidly sank with the loss of nineteen crewmen. Her wreck was located and photographed during the 1970s.

This page features all the views we have related to USS F-1 (Submarine Number 20).


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 99234

USS F-1
(Submarine # 20)

In a West Coast harbor, 1912.
A barge loaded with lumber is in the left distance.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 85KB; 595 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 79744

USS F-1
(Submarine # 20)

Underway prior to World War I.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1974.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 42KB; 740 x 310 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 84994

USS F-1
(Submarine # 20)

Aground at Watsonville, California, in October 1912. She went ashore on 11 October and was refloated on 18 October.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1976

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 490 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 92187

F-Class Submarines


At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, before World War I.
This view shows the bows of USS F-1 (Submarine # 20), USS F-2 (Submarine # 21) and USS F-3 (Submarine # 22).

Collection of Thomas P. Naughton, 1973.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 475 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 99235

Wreck of USS F-1
(Submarine # 20)

"A view of the deck hatch and after sail of the F-1 submarine that sank after a collision on December 17, 1917. The submarine was located and filmed by the U.S. Navy oceanographic research ship USNS De Steiguer (T-AGOR-12) during a routine search for an aircraft that crashed into the ocean three years ago." (quoted from the original photo caption, dated October 1975)
USS F-1 sank off the coast of California, with the loss of 19 of her crew, after colliding with her sister, USS F-3 (Submarine # 22).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 75KB; 595 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 84383

U.S. Submarines Number 20 through 23


General plans prepared by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts, 18 June 1910. This sheet features inboard and outboard profile drawings.
These submarines were constructed by the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California. Initially named Carp (Submarine # 20), Barracuda (Submarine # 21), Pickerel (Submarine # 22) and Skate (Submarine # 23), they were renamed F-1 through F-4 in November 1911, while under construction.

The original plan is in Record Group 19 at the U.S. National Archives.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 210KB; 1200 x 805 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 84382

U.S. Submarines Number 20 through 23


General plans prepared by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts, 18 June 1910. This sheet features a table of dimensions, deck plans and hull section drawings.
These submarines were constructed by the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California. Initially named Carp (Submarine # 20), Barracuda (Submarine # 21), Pickerel (Submarine # 22) and Skate (Submarine # 23), they were renamed F-1 through F-4 in November 1911, while under construction.

The original plan is in Record Group 19 at the U.S. National Archives.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 202KB; 1200 x 715 pixels

 


The following photographs show USS F-1 in the background of views of sister F-class submarines:

Photo #: NH 63259

Submarines and their crews at Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1914


These boats are (from front to back): USS F-4 (SS-23), USS F-2 (SS-21), USS F-3 (SS-22) and USS F-1 (SS-20).
The U.S. Army Transport Dix is in the background.
Note the "fish" flags and 13-star "boat" ensigns flown by these submarines.
Photographed by Noggle.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 295 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 79746

USS F-2
(Submarine # 21)

In drydock in 1914, with her sister F-1 (Submarine # 20) alongside.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1974.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 124KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of the wreck of USS F-1 (Submarine # 20). The following list features some of these images:

The images listed below are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".



  • Photo #: 428-K-111392 (color)
    "Pacific Ocean ... A view of the corrosion of the forward deck superstructure of the F-1 submarine that sank after a collision on December 17, 1917. The submarine was located and filmed by the U.S. Navy oceanographic research ship USNS De Steiguer, T-AGOR-12, during a routine search for an aircraft that crashed into the ocean three years ago." (quoted from the original photo caption, dated October 1975)
    A relatively murky photograph, showing a small part of the submarine's upper hull, with corrosion having eaten away light plating seen at the right side of the image.

  • Photo #: 428-K-111394 (color)
    As 428-K-111392, but " ... A view of the shear helm and sail hatch of the F-1 ..." (quoted from the original photo caption, dated October 1975.
    The image, taken from off F-1's port side, shows the hatch at the top of the submarine's sail, with the hatch cover open, flanked fore and aft by her periscope shears. Her surface conning platform is also visible, as is distorted weather screen framework around that platform.

  • Photo #: 428-K-111397 (color)
    As 428-K-111397, but the image shows only the hatch and the after periscope shear. A crab is visible alongside the shear.

    NOTE: Gaps in the number series cited above indicate that there may be additional views in this photo group. Information on these photographs, if they exist, should be available from the National Archives' Still Picture Branch.


    Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


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


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    Page made 5 April 2004