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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 41853:  USS R-1 at Pearl Harbor, circa 1923-1930

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

USS R-1 (Submarine # 78, later SS-78), 1918-1946

USS R-1, name vessel of a class of twenty 569-ton submarines, was built at Quincy, Massachusetts. She was commissioned in mid-December 1918, the first of her type to be completed on the East Coast (though nearly five months behind the initial West Coast "R-Boat"). R-1 served in the western Atlantic for nearly all of 1919, then spent several months in the Caribbean before returning to more northerly waters. In May and June 1921 she went to the Pacific and was based in California and Hawaii for the next decade. The submarine was decommissioned at the beginning of May 1931 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, where she she remained until after the outbreak of World War II in Europe.

R-1 resumed commissioned service in October 1940 and was assigned to help defend the Panama Canal Zone, duty that lasted nearly a year. When the United States joined the war against Germany in December 1941, she began anti-submarine (ASW) patrols between the U.S. and Bermuda. During three years of this work, R-1 had one known encounter with the enemy, making an attack on a surfaced U-Boat on 16 April 1942. Beginning in March 1945, she was employed on ASW development and training in the vicinity of Florida and New England. USS R-1 was decommissioned in September 1945, soon after the fighting's end, and was sold for scrapping in March 1946.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS R-1 (Submarine # 78, later SS-78).


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 41846

USS R-1
(Submarine # 78)

At rest off Provincetown, Massachusetts, 8 November 1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 575 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 41853

USS R-1
(SS-78)

At Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, circa 1923-1930.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 102947

USS R-1
(SS-78)

Fine screen halftone reproduction of a photograph taken in June 1943.
Published by the Division of Naval Intelligence, Identification and Characteristics Section.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 39KB; 740 x 300 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-312928

USS R-1
(SS-78)

Underway off the U.S. Atlantic Coast, 2 March 1945.
Photographed from a blimp of squadron ZP-24.
Note that the 20mm gun has been removed from the aft end of her fairwater.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 615 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 99894

USS Camden
(ID # 3143, later AS-6)

At anchor on 21 January 1920, with USS R-1 (Submarine # 78) alongside.

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

Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 580 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 99892

USS Camden
(AS-6)

Off New York City with twelve submarines alongside, circa 1920.
Submarines are, from inboard to outboard (left to right):
USS R-1 (SS-78);
USS R-2 (SS-79);
USS R-4 (SS-81);
USS R-5 (SS-82);
USS R-6 (SS-83);
USS R-10 (SS-87);
USS R-9 (SS-86);
USS R-8 (SS-85);
USS R-7 (SS-84);
USS R-3 (SS-80);
USS S-4 (SS-109); and
USS S-3 (SS-108).

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

Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 465 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 59972

USS Camden
(AS-6)

Off New York City with twelve submarines alongside, circa 1920.
Submarines are, from inboard to outboard (left to right):
USS R-1 (SS-78);
USS R-2 (SS-79);
USS R-4 (SS-81);
USS R-5 (SS-82);
USS R-6 (SS-83);
USS R-10 (SS-87);
USS R-9 (SS-86);
USS R-8 (SS-85);
USS R-7 (SS-84);
USS R-3 (SS-80);
USS S-4 (SS-109); and
USS S-3 (SS-108).

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

Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 575 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 61543

USS Camden
(AS-6)

In New York Harbor during the early 1920s, with several "R" type submarines alongside. The sub closest to Camden is USS R-1 (SS-78).
Note that all these submarines have platforms forward of their fairwaters for a 3"/50 gun, but only one of them carries the gun.

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

Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 570 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 99895

USS Camden
(AS-6)

In New York Harbor during the early 1920s, with several "R" type submarines alongside. The sub closest to Camden is USS R-1 (SS-78).

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

Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 545 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-1024959

USS Camden
(AS-6)

In New York Harbor during the early 1920s, with several "R" type submarines alongside. The sub closest to Camden is USS R-1 (SS-78).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 575 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 55044

USS Camden
(AS-6)

In San Pedro Harbor, California, 1921.
Submarines alongside are (from outboard to inboard):
USS R-1 (SS-78);
USS R-3 (SS-80);
USS R-8 (SS-85);
USS R-4 (SS-81);
USS R-2 (SS-79); and
USS R-10 (SS-87).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 590 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 55045

USS Camden
(AS-6)

In San Pedro Harbor, California, 1921.
Submarines alongside are (from outboard to inboard):
USS R-1 (SS-78);
USS R-3 (SS-80);
USS R-8 (SS-85);
USS R-4 (SS-81);
USS R-2 (SS-79); and
USS R-10 (SS-87).
The original print was autographed in June 1967 by Admiral Thomas C. Hart, USN (Retired), who used Camden as his flagship from May 1930 to January 1931, while he was Commander, Control Force, U.S. Fleet. He was a Rear Admiral at that time.
This photo, without autograph, is Photo # NH 55044.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 590 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 69000

"R" type submarines


In dry dock at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, during the early 1920s.
Submarines in the foreground are (from left to right):
USS R-3 (SS-80);
USS R-2 (SS-79); and
USS R-1 (SS-78).
Five other "R-Boats" are further back in the dry dock.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 167KB; 740 x 625 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 21 April 2005