R-14 file photo [31567]

R-14

CountryUnited States
Ship ClassR-class Submarine
Hull NumberSS-91
BuilderBethlehem Fore River Shipyard
Ordered29 Oct 1916
Laid Down6 Nov 1918
Launched10 Oct 1919
Commissioned24 Dec 1919
Decommissioned7 May 1945
Displacement578 tons standard; 690 tons submerged
Length186 feet
Beam17 feet
Draft15 feet
MachineryDiesel engines (880hp), electric motors (934hp)
Speed13 knots
Range3,700nm at 10 knots surfaced, 160nm at 10 knots submerged
Crew29
Armament4x533mm bow torpedo tubes, 8 torpedoes, 1x76mm/50cal deck gun
Submerged Speed10.5 knots

Contributor:

ww2dbaseUSS R-14 was commissioned into US Navy service in Oct 1919. After a shakedown cruise off the New England coast in northeastern United States, R-14 moved to New London, Connecticut, United States, where she prepared for transfer to the Pacific Fleet. In May 1920, she departed from New London, transiting the Panama Canal in Jul 1920, and arrived at Pearl Harbor in the US Territory of Hawaii in Sep 1920, where she would remain for nine years. During that time, in May 1921, under acting command of Lieutenant Alexander Dean Douglas, her fuel supplies ran unexpectedly low, while the ship lost radio communications. Engineering officer Roy Trent Gallemore designed a foresail made out of eight hammocks, a main sail made from six blankets, and a mizzen made from eight blankets, all hung from structures made from masts, pipe bunk frames, and torpedo loading cranes. The improvisation allowed the submarine to sail for 64 hours, reaching a point close enough to Hilo, Hawaii that the crew could use the small amount of remaining fuel to run the diesel engines and thus to charge the batteries, and arrive at Hilo. Douglas received a letter of commendation for the crew's innovative actions from the Submarine Division Commander Chester Nimitz. In Dec 1930, she departed Pearl Harbor for the Atlantic Ocean via the Panama Canal. Arriving in New London in Feb 1931, she served the majority of the 1930s as a training ship attached to the Submarine School. In the spring of 1941, she was relocated to Key West, Florida, United States. In the fall of 1941, she received a scheduled overhaul at New London, and returning to Key West in Nov 1941. In early May 1945, she arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States for decommissioning. She was sold to the firm Rossoff Brothers of New York, New York, United States for scrapping in Sep 1945, and which sold her again to the Northern Metals Company of Philadelphia. She was scrapped in 1946.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Jan 2022

Submarine R-14 (SS-91) Interactive Map

Photographs

USS R-14 underway, probably during trials, late 1919 or early 1920USS R-14 underway with improvised sails, Pacific Ocean, May 1921US Submarine R-14 underway in the Main Channel at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, mid-1930s. Note the Ford Island fuel tanks in the background.USS R-14 in port, 1941; note tug W. F. Dalzell in background

R-14 Operational Timeline

29 Aug 1916 The order for submarine R-14 was issued.
6 Nov 1918 The keel of R-14 was laid down at the Bethlehem Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, United States.
10 Oct 1919 R-14 was launched at the Bethlehem Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, United States. She was sponsored by Ms. Florence L. Gardner.
24 Dec 1919 USS R-14 was commissioned into service with Lieutenant Vincent A. Clarke, Jr., in command.
6 Sep 1920 USS R-14 arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
21 May 1921 USS R-14 arrived at Hilo, US Territory of Hawaii.
12 Dec 1930 USS R-14 departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
9 Feb 1931 USS R-14 arrived at New London, Connecticut, United States.
1 Jun 1941 USS R-14 arrived at Key West, Florida, United States.
22 Nov 1941 USS R-14 arrived at Key West, Florida, United States.
25 Apr 1945 USS R-14 departed Key West, Florida, United States.
7 May 1945 USS R-14 was decommissioned from service at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
19 May 1945 R-14 was struck from the US Naval Register.
28 Sep 1945 R-14 was sold to Rossoff Brothers of New York, New York, United States for scrapping.




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Submarine R-14 (SS-91) Photo Gallery
USS R-14 underway, probably during trials, late 1919 or early 1920
See all 4 photographs of Submarine R-14 (SS-91)


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