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Photo # NH 93419:  USS R-6 being refloated in San Pedro Harbor, 13 October 1921

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

USS R-6 (Submarine # 83, later SS-83), 1919-1946

USS R-6, a 569-ton R-1 class submarine built at Quincy, Massachusetts, was commissioned at the beginning of May 1919. Following several months' service in U.S. Atlantic Coast waters, between December 1919 and May 1920 she deployed to the Gulf of Mexico, then returned home. R-6 was designated SS-83 in July 1920. She went to the Pacific in mid-1921 and was based on the West Coast for the next two years. While at San Pedro, California, on 26 September 1921 she accidently sank, but was raised three weeks later and repaired. R-6 went to Pearl Harbor in July 1923, remained in Hawaii until 1930, and returned to the Atlantic in January 1931. She was decommissioned in May of that year and laid up at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania.

During the expansion of the fleet following the outbreak of World War II in Europe R-6 returned to active service. Recommissioned in mid-November 1940, the submarine operated in the Panama Canal area and in the Caribbean until October 1941. During much of 1942 she conducted patrols between the U.S. and Bermuda as part of the effort against German submarine activities. The rest of the Second World War was mainly spent on training service. In 1945 she became the first U.S. Navy submarine to be fitted with a snorkel, which allowed submerged operation of her diesel engines. USS R-6 was decommissioned in late September 1945 and sold for scrapping in March 1946.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS R-6 (Submarine # 83, later SS-83).


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 69167

USS R-6
(Submarine # 83)

Aground at the entrance to New London harbor, Connecticut, circa early December 1919.
While anchored alongside USS Camden with five other submarines, R-6 was swept away by a gale and grounded on "Black Rock" at the entrance to the harbor at New London. Once aground, the submarine radioed for help and two minesweepers tried to pull her off the rocks, but to no avail. She was later freed and returned to service.
The original photograph was dated 4 December 1919.

Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, 1969.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 575 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 69167-A

USS R-6
(Submarine # 83)

Aground at the entrance to New London harbor, Connecticut, circa early December 1919.
The original print's caption, dated 5 December 1919, reads: "The U.S. Submarine R-6 swept onto 'Black Rock' at the entrance to the harbor at New London, Conn. by a terrific gale which raged thru Long Island sound. The sub was at anchor beside its mother ship Camden with five other subs. Wireless calls for help brought two mine-sweepers which tried in vane to get her off the rocks. Finally the crew were removed, and last reports indicate a determined effort to float the sub."

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 525 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 93419

USS R-6
(SS-83)

Being refloated in San Pedro Harbor, California, 13 October 1921. She had sunk there on 26 September of that year.
In the background, assisting with the salvage work, is USS R-10 (SS-87).
Photographed by A.E. Wells, Washington, D.C.

Collection of Delmar Ketch.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 


USS R-6 is seen in the following photographs as part of groups of submarines:

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 41746

R-Class submarines


Nested together at New York City, circa 1920.
They include (from left to right):
USS R-7 (Submarine # 84); USS R-8 (Submarine # 85); USS R-9 (Submarine # 86); USS R-10 (Submarine # 87); USS R-6 (Submarine # 83); USS R-5 (Submarine # 82); and USS R-4 (Submarine # 81).
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 565 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 41780

R-Class submarines


Nested together in the Hudson River, off New York City, circa 1920.
They include (from left to right):
USS R-7 (Submarine # 84); USS R-8 (Submarine # 85); USS R-9 (Submarine # 86); USS R-10 (Submarine # 87); and USS R-6 (Submarine # 83). The stern of USS R-5 (Submarine # 82) is visible furthest to the right.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 565 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 41779

R-Class submarines


Nested together alongside USS Camden (ID # 3143, later AS-6) at New York City, probably in May 1920.
They include (from right to left):
USS R-7 (Submarine # 84); USS R-8 (Submarine # 85); USS R-9 (Submarine # 86); USS R-10 (Submarine # 87); and USS R-6 (Submarine # 83).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 585 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 101183

USS Camden
(AS-6)

In San Diego Harbor, California, during the early 1920s, with four "R" type submarines alongside. The outboard submarine is USS R-8 (SS-85). The inboard "boat" is USS R-6 (SS-83).

Courtesy of H.R. ("Ed") Coffer, 1986.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 415 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 92002

USS Camden
(AS-6)

Photographed circa the early 1920s, with four "R" type submarines alongside, including (from left to right):
USS R-6 (SS-83);
USS R-4 (SS-81);
unidentified; and
USS R-2 (SS-79).

Collection of Joseph A. Hendricks.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 435 pixels

 


In addition to the views reference above, the National Archives appears to hold at least one other photograph of USS R-6 (SS-83). The following listing describes this image:

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


  • Photo #: 80-G-237933
    USS R-6 (SS-83) underway in eastern Long Island Sound (position 41 15'N, 72 10'W), 17 July 1944. Photographed from a blimp of squadron ZP-11.
    Port broadside aerial view. R-6 is wearing her hull number ("83") at the after end of her fairwater.


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

    The image listed above is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it 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 23 August 2006