Boat History

25 March  1915 SS 23  (F4) aka ‘Skate’ Tragedy struck the Submarine Service for the first time on this date in 1915. Off the Coast of Oahu, Submarine F-4 (SS 23) exploded and sank outside of Pearl Harbor.  Twenty-One of the crew perished, the sole crew member

Leroy Eugene Chandler SN – February 27, 1935 – USS Bonita (SS-165) Died of injuries after falling to floor of drydock in Navy Yard, Mare Island, California. He was 24 years old and was buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery, San Francisco, California – his remains

A little Submarine history to spice up Valentine’s Day14 February 1912 – The 1st US submarine specifically ordered by and built for the US Navy, the USS E-1, with diesel engines was commissioned at Groton, Ct. USS E-1 (SS-24). It was an E-class submarine of originally named Skipjack,

Duane Valdene Christian  TM3 – February 4, 1945 – USS Barbel (SS-316) Departed Freemantle on 5 January 1945 for her fourth War Patrol. After conducting training exercises Barbel entered her patrol area on 8 January. On 13 January, Barbel was ordered to form a Wolfpack with Bluegill

FEBRUARY 11 February 1942 SS 174 Shark may have been the first US Submarine lost in the war. The last she was heard from was on & February when she reported chasing a Japanese cargo Ship. Records examined after the war indicate she may have been sunk

27 January On this day in 1900, Hyman G. Rickover, father of the Nuclear Navy, was born in Makow, Russia (now Poland). His family emigrated to the United States in 1906. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he served on active duty with the United States Navy

21 January  1954 – On this date in 1954 the USS Nautilus, SSN 571, was christened by First Lady Mamie Eisenhower and launched at Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. Its power plant was designed by a team of engineers and scientists assigned  to the Naval Reactors Branch of

18 January 1944 – USS Flasher (SS 249) While transiting to her patrol area, on her initial mission, near Mindoro, Flasher sank her fist target. Flasher would then go on to sink a total of 21 enemy ships for a total of 100,231 tons, second only to

USS Swordfish (SS-193) departed Pearl Harbor on her thirteenth War Patrol on 22 December 1944. After topping off at Midway Swordfish sailed to near Okinawa where it was to conduct photographic reconnaissance. After acknowledging orders Swordfish was not heard from again. USS Kete (SS 369) did report

Harold Lomani Rolland GMC and Rolla Parsons, Jr. RM2 – January 10, 1943 – USS Argonaut (SS-166) Near Rabaul Sunk by surface attack and depth charges, Records show that One hundred Two hands were lost, the worst loss for a US Submarine in World War Two. Before