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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
USS F-1 (Submarine Number 20), 1912-1917.
Name changed from Carp while under construction
USS F-1, first of a class of four 330-ton submarines,
was built at San Francisco, California. Launched in September
1911 as USS Carp, she was renamed F-1 in November
1911 and placed in commission in June 1912. The submarine spent
her entire career in the Pacific, mainly off the West Coast, but
was based at Honolulu, Hawaii, between July 1914 and November
1915. She was laid up in March 1916 and returned to active service
in June 1917, a few months after the United States entered World
War I. On 17 December 1917, while underway off California, USS
F-1 collided with her sister, USS F-3.
Her hull torn open amidships, she rapidly sank with the loss of
nineteen crewmen. Her wreck was located and photographed during
the 1970s.
This page features all the views we have related to USS
F-1 (Submarine Number 20).
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 99234
USS F-1 (Submarine # 20)
In a West Coast harbor, 1912.
A barge loaded with lumber is in the left distance.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 85KB; 595 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 79744
USS F-1 (Submarine # 20)
Underway prior to World War I.
Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1974.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 42KB; 740 x 310 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 84994
USS F-1 (Submarine # 20)
Aground at Watsonville, California, in October 1912. She went
ashore on 11 October and was refloated on 18 October.
Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1976
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 490 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 92187
F-Class Submarines
At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, before World War I.
This view shows the bows of USS F-1 (Submarine # 20),
USS F-2 (Submarine # 21) and USS F-3 (Submarine
# 22).
Collection of Thomas P. Naughton, 1973.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 475 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 99235
Wreck of USS F-1 (Submarine # 20)
"A view of the deck hatch and after sail of the F-1
submarine that sank after a collision on December 17, 1917. The
submarine was located and filmed by the U.S. Navy oceanographic
research ship USNS De Steiguer (T-AGOR-12) during a routine
search for an aircraft that crashed into the ocean three years
ago." (quoted from the original photo caption, dated October
1975)
USS F-1 sank off the coast of California, with the loss
of 19 of her crew, after colliding with her sister, USS F-3
(Submarine # 22).
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 75KB; 595 x 765 pixels |
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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 |
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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 |
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The following photographs show USS F-1 in the background
of views of sister F-class submarines:
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 |
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Photo #: NH 79746
USS F-2 (Submarine # 21)
In drydock in 1914, with her sister F-1 (Submarine # 20)
alongside.
Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1974.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 124KB; 740 x 600 pixels |
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In addition to the images presented above, the National
Archives appears to hold other views of the wreck of USS F-1
(Submarine # 20). The following list features some of these images:
The images listed below are NOT in
the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our
page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".
Photo #: 428-K-111392 (color)
"Pacific Ocean ... A view of the corrosion of the forward
deck superstructure of the F-1 submarine that sank after
a collision on December 17, 1917. The submarine was located and
filmed by the U.S. Navy oceanographic research ship USNS De
Steiguer, T-AGOR-12, during a routine search for an aircraft
that crashed into the ocean three years ago." (quoted from
the original photo caption, dated October 1975)
A relatively murky photograph, showing a small part of the submarine's
upper hull, with corrosion having eaten away light plating seen
at the right side of the image.
Photo #: 428-K-111394 (color)
As 428-K-111392, but " ... A view of the shear helm and
sail hatch of the F-1 ..." (quoted from the original
photo caption, dated October 1975.
The image, taken from off F-1's port side, shows the hatch
at the top of the submarine's sail, with the hatch cover open,
flanked fore and aft by her periscope shears. Her surface conning
platform is also visible, as is distorted weather screen framework
around that platform.
Photo #: 428-K-111397 (color)
As 428-K-111397, but the image shows only the hatch and the after
periscope shear. A crab is visible alongside the shear.
NOTE: Gaps in the number series
cited above indicate that there may be additional views in this
photo group. Information on these photographs, if they exist,
should be available from the National Archives' Still Picture
Branch.
Reproductions of these images should be available through
the National Archives photographic
reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical
Center.
The images listed in this box are NOT
in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain
them using the procedures described in our page "How to
Obtain Photographic Reproductions".
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Page made 5 April 2004