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Photo # NH 63259:  USS F-4 with her sister submarines at Honolulu, Hawaii, 1914

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

USS F-4 (Submarine Number 23), 1913-1915.
Name changed from Skate while under construction

USS F-4, a 330-ton "F" class submarine, was built at Seattle, Washington. Originally named Skate, her name was changed to F-4 in November 1911, while she was under construction. The new submarine was commissioned in May 1913 and operated along the U.S. west coast until mid-1914, when she was transferred to Hawaii. On 25 March 1915, during a routine dive a few miles off Honolulu, F-4 sank in 51 fathoms of water, with the loss of her 21 crewmembers.

The ensuing rescue attempts and successful recovery of the sunken submarine were major events in the history of Navy diving and salvage. Raising F-4 was done under the technical direction of Naval Constructor Julius A. Furer in April-August 1915. Initially, cables were dragged under her hull and she was lifted and towed into shallower water during May. While taking part in the extremely deep diving activities involved in this phase of the operation, Navy Diver Frank W. Crilley performed an act of heroism for which he received the Medal of Honor.

As F-4's weakened hull could not withstand further measures of the type used in the initial lifting, the final part of the recovery effort had to await construction of special salvage pontoons. On 29 August 1915, after the pontoons had been brought to Hawaii from the west coast, and following extensive additional diving work, the submarine was raised from the bottom and taken into Honolulu Harbor for drydocking. Examination of the wreck revealed design defects that were corrected in existing and future Navy submarines, greatly enhancing the safety of the undersea service. F-4 was not repaired. Her remains were buried near the Pearl Harbor Submarine Base in 1940.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS F-4 and her salvage.


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 74736

USS F-4 (SS-23)


Photographed in 1913-15.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1972.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 75KB; 465 x 765 pixels

 
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 74731

Salvage of USS F-4 (SS-23), April-August 1915


A diver descending to the sunken submarine. Photographed 90 feet below the surface.
F-4 had sunk on 25 March 1915 off Honolulu, Hawaii, in over 300 feet of water.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1972.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 133KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 43497

Salvage of USS F-4 (SS-23), April-August 1915


Valve manifold and hose leads to submerged pontoons, on board a salvage vessel off Honolulu, Hawaii, probably in August 1915. This equipment was devised by Naval Constructor Julius A. Furer.
Halftone photograph, copied from "Transactions of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers", Volume 24, 1916, Figure 11.
The tug in the left distance is probably USS Navajo.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 535 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 43498

Salvage of USS F-4 (SS-23), April-August 1915


Bow salvage pontoons emerging from the depths, off Honolulu, Hawaii, circa 29 August 1915, during the final lifting of the sunken submarine. The salvage equipment was devised by Naval Constructor Julius A. Furer.
Halftone photograph, copied from "Transactions of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers", Volume 24, 1916, Figure 12.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 555 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 43499

Salvage of USS F-4 (SS-23), April-August 1915


All salvage pontoons on the surface, off Honolulu, Hawaii, circa 29 August 1915, with preparations under way to tow the sunken submarine into Honolulu Harbor. The salvage equipment was devised by Naval Constructor Julius A. Furer.
Halftone photograph, copied from "Transactions of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers", Volume 24, 1916, Figure 13.
The tug in the center is probably USS Navajo.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 570 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 74732

Salvage of USS F-4 (SS-23), April-August 1915


Salvage pontoons on the surface, off Honolulu, Hawaii, circa 29 August 1915, after the final lifting of the sunken submarine in preparation for towing her into Honolulu harbor.
Note wooden protective sheathing around the pontoons. Salvage equipment was devised by Naval Constructor Julius A. Furer.
The tug at right is probably USS Navajo.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1972.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 455 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 74733

Salvage of USS F-4 (SS-23), April-August 1915

F-4 in drydock at Honolulu, Hawaii, on 1 September 1915, after she had been raised from over 300 feet of water and towed into port. Note the large implosion hole in her port side, and the salvage pontoons used to support her during the final lift.
This view shows F-4's port bow. She is upside down, rolled to starboard approximately 120 degrees from the vertical.
Photographed by Kodagraph, Honolulu.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1972.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 485 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 74734

Salvage of USS F-4 (SS-23), April-August 1915


Naval personnel examine the large implosion hole in F-4's port side, in drydock at Honolulu, Hawaii, circa late August or early September 1915. She had been raised from over 300 feet of water and towed into port.
This view was taken from off the port bow, showing the submarine's port side diving plane in the center. She is upside down, rolled to starboard approximately 120 degrees from the vertical.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1972.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 465 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 74735

Salvage of USS F-4 (SS-23), April-August 1915


View of F-4's port side name plate, taken in drydock at Honolulu, Hawaii, circa late August or early September 1915, after she had been raised from over 300 feet of water and towed into port.
These figures are mounted on the submarine's port bow, and are shown upside down, as she was drydocked rolled to starboard approximately 120 degrees from the vertical.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1972.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 128KB; 740 x 465 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

 


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


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Page made 28 June 2000
New images added 4 April 2004