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Photo # NH 41896:  USS R-3 surfacing, circa the early 1920s

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

USS R-3 (Submarine # 80, later SS-80), 1919-1941

USS R-3, a 569-ton R-1 class submarine, was built at Quincy, Massachusetts. She was placed in commission in mid-April 1919 and spent the next two years operating along the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. Late in May 1921 R-3 transited the Panama Canal to begin service in the Pacific. She was based at San Pedro, California, until July 1923, then went to Pearl Harbor, her home for the remainder of the decade. The submarine returned to the Atlantic early in 1931 for several months of service at the Naval Submarine School at Groton, Connecticut. After performing experimental and training duties in Washington, D.C., and Maryland waters, R-3 was decommissioned in August 1934 and laid up at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

R-3 was brought back into active service by the Second World War. Recommissioned in August 1940, she was used for patrol and training work in the New England and Panama Canal areas until the middle of 1941. USS R-3 was decommissioned early in November 1941 and transferred to the United Kingdom. As HMS P.511 she served with the British Navy until returned to U.S. Navy custody in December 1944. Now too elderly for effective employment, she remained inactive until scrapped in Scotland in 1948.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS R-3 (Submarine # 80, later SS-80).


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 41896

USS R-3
(SS-80)

Surfacing, circa the early 1920s, as seen from an aircraft.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 138KB; 740 x 575 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 77275

USS Lebanon
(1898-1922)

In port with "R" type submarines alongside, circa 1919.
Among the boats present are:
USS R-3 (Submarine # 80) - 2nd from left; and
USS R-9 (Submarine # 86) - 2nd from right.

Courtesy of Mrs. C.R. DeSpain, 1973. From the scrapbooks of Fred M. Butler.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 470 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 41855

Submarines nested together
, May 1920

Alongside USS Camden (Submarine Tender # 6), in the North River, New York City.
They are, from near to far (left to right):
USS R-4 (Submarine # 81);
USS R-5 (Submarine # 82);
USS R-6 (Submarine # 83);
USS R-10 (Submarine # 87);
USS R-9 (Submarine # 86);
USS R-8 (Submarine # 85);
USS R-7 (Submarine # 84);
USS R-3 (Submarine # 80);
USS S-4 (Submarine # 109); and
USS S-3 (Submarine # 108).
Note that all the "R" class submarines have gun platforms, but that guns are fitted only on R-10 and R-3. S-4 has a platform for a 4"/50 gun (but no gun is installed), while S-3 still has no gun platform.

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

Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 445 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 41863

Submarines nested together
, May 1920

Alongside USS Camden (Submarine Tender # 6), in the North River, New York City.
They are, from near to far:
USS R-4 (Submarine # 81);
USS R-5 (Submarine # 82);
USS R-6 (Submarine # 83);
USS R-10 (Submarine # 87);
USS R-9 (Submarine # 86);
USS R-8 (Submarine # 85);
USS R-7 (Submarine # 84);
USS R-3 (Submarine # 80);
USS S-4 (Submarine # 109); and
USS S-3 (Submarine # 108).

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

Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 450 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 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 20 November 2005