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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 53825:  USS H-3 stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, circa December 1916-January 1917

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- The 1910s -- 1916-1917

Stranding of USS H-3 and USS Milwaukee, and salvage of USS H-3, December 1916 - April 1917

On the morning of 14 December 1916 four U.S. Navy vessels were en route to visit the northern California city of Eureka. The three submarines, H-1, H-2 and H-3, and their tender, the monitor Cheyenne, had come down the West Coast in frequently foggy weather, and now had to negotiate heavy waves to enter the shelter of Humboldt Bay. With visibility limited from her low conning tower, H-3 misjudged her position and found herself in the surf off Samoa Beach, near the bay's entrance. Her one functioning diesel engine was not powerful enough to escape the breakers, and the submarine was soon aground broadside to the beach, rolling heavily.

With H-3's crew helpless in the pounding surf, and her companion ships unable to reach her from offshore, the local lifesaving crew began rescue operations. During the afternoon a Coast Guard surfboat was hauled overland and, after fighting its way out through the violent seas, was able carry a line to the stranded submarine. By early evening all of H-3's twenty-seven crewmen had been brought ashore by breeches buoy.

The problem of salvaging the stranded submarine was now addressed. The Navy tug Iroquois and Coast Guard cutter McCulloch joined Cheyenne in this effort. With great difficulty a heavy cable was run from the submarine out to the monitor, but this broke when Cheyenne and Iroquois tried to pull H-3 free on 19 December. With that, private contractors were called in. A salvage firm offered to do the work for $150,000, but this was deemed too costly. The only other bid, for only $18,000 from a local construction company which proposed to haul H-3 over Samoa Beach and relaunch her into Humboldt Bay, was dismissed as unrealistic. The Navy, though lacking salvage experience and specialized equipment, decided to pursue the task itself. The way was thus unwittingly established for an even greater disaster, whose story is related in the following pages.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we concerning the stranding of USS H-3 (Submarine # 30), her salvage, and to the loss of USS Milwaukee (Cruiser # 21)

For pictures of the salvage of USS H-3 and the loss of USS Milwaukee, see:

  • USS H-3 salvage attempts, January 1917;
  • Stranding of USS Milwaukee, 13 January 1917;
  • Stranding of USS Milwaukee, 13 January 1917 -- Rescue of the ship's crew;
  • USS H-3 salvage efforts, February-March 1917; and
  • USS H-3 salvage efforts, April 1917.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 99323

    Stranding of USS H-3, December 1916


    A volunteer boat crew leaving USS Cheyenne (Monitor # 10) to attempt to assist USS H-3 (Submarine # 30), soon after the latter had run ashore on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, in mid-December 1916.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Donation of Donald M. McPherson.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 470 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 66214

    Stranding of USS H-3, December 1916


    Lifesaving station Coast Guardsmen who rescued the crew of USS H-3 (Submarine # 30) after she ran aground on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, in mid-December 1916.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Donation of Donald M. McPherson.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 460 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53824

    USS H-3
    (Submarine # 30)

    Stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, probably soon after she had gone ashore on in December 1916. Note the canvas weather screens still attached around the top of her conning tower.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 580 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53836

    USS H-3
    (Submarine # 30)

    Stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, circa December 1916 - January 1917.
    Though dated 13 January 1917, the absence of salvage lines atttached to H-3's bow indicates that this photo was taken earlier.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 450 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53835

    USS H-3
    (Submarine # 30)

    Stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, circa January 1917.
    This image was taken at very low tide, from off H-3's starboard (sea side) bow.
    Photographed by the Freeman Art Company.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 520 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53825

    USS H-3
    (Submarine # 30)

    Stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, circa December 1916 - January 1917.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53826

    USS H-3
    (Submarine # 30)

    Seen from astern while stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, circa December 1916 - January 1917.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 66224

    Stranding of USS H-3, December 1916


    Sailors and civilians gather around USS H-3 (Submarine # 30) "high and dry" on Samoa Beach, California, soon after she went ashore in mid-December 1916.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Donation of Donald M. McPherson.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 465 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53827

    USS H-3
    (Submarine # 30)

    Seen from off her starboard quarter and surrounded by a crowd of onlookers and Navy personnel, while stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, circa January 1917.
    Photographed by Freeman.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 535 pixels

     

    For pictures of the salvage of USS H-3 and the loss of USS Milwaukee, see:

  • USS H-3 salvage attempts, January 1917;
  • Stranding of USS Milwaukee, 13 January 1917;
  • Stranding of USS Milwaukee, 13 January 1917 -- Rescue of the ship's crew;
  • USS H-3 salvage efforts, February-March 1917; and
  • USS H-3 salvage efforts, April 1917.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 31 May 2004
    Text revised 14 June 2004