The Navy’s early experience with submarines was a constant drumbeat of human tragedy.
While looking for lost relics deep beneath the Pacific Ocean, mere miles from the coast of San Diego, California, researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the US Navy successfully located the wreck of an American submarine that sank during a training accident in 1917.
Known as the USS F-1, this submarine sank shortly after a mistaken collision with another American submarine while on a training cruise. Nineteen of its crew were lost in the accident; three were rescued by the other submarine, which remained afloat.
The USS F-1 sank to a depth of more than 1,300 feet, far too deep for human divers to reach. The wreck was discovered by the WHOI and Navy team who were operating a Human-Occupied Underwater Vehicle (HOV), as well as an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), deployed from the WHOI research ship Atlantis.
The USS F-1 Was One of America’s Earliest Submarines
Originally designated as Carp, Submarine Torpedo Boat No. 20, the USS F-1 holds a significant, though often overlooked, place in the annals of the US Navy’s submarine program. Commissioned in the early twentieth century, it was the first among the F-class submarines, a group of vessels that represented the Navy’s earliest forays into modern submersible technologies. While its operational career was brief and marred by tragedy, the USS F-1’s story offers valuable insights into the technological, strategic, and human dimensions of early American submarine development.
Authorized by Congress in 1908 as part of the Navy’s effort to expand and modernize its submarine, the F-class submarines were designed by the Electric Boat Company and built at the Union Iron Works in San Francisco, California. The F-1 herself was laid down on August 17, 1909 and launched three years later in 1912—where she was commissioned by the Navy that year on June 19.
America’s F-class submarines were an evolution of even earlier US Navy subs, such as the Holland-class and A-class submarines, incorporating improvements in propulsion, armament, and habitability. The F-1 was a relatively small vessel by modern standards, displacing a meager 330 tons when submerged. Its design reflected the technological constraints of the era, balancing the need for underwater stealth with the limitations of early twentieth century engineering.
Two gasoline engines for surface travel—producing 780-horsepower—as well as two electric motors for submerged operations—powered this submarine, allowing for a maximum speed of 13.5 knots on the surface and 11.5 knots underwater. Its range was limited, capable of traveling 2,300 nautical miles.
The armament on the submarine consisted of 18-inch torpedo tubes, with a capacity to carry four torpedoes. Unlike later submarines, the F-class lacked deck guns or other secondary weapons, reflecting its primary role as a stealthy torpedo platform. The crew complement was small, typically consisting of 22 officers and enlisted men. The submarine was certainly innovative for its time but its design and operational limitations reflected the way in which submarines were still a highly experimental platform.
The F-1’s operational environment was challenging. Early submarines such as the F-1 were plagued by mechanical unreliability, limited endurance, and hazardous working conditions. Gasoline engines posed a constant risk of fire or explosion, and the lack of advanced navigation or communication systems made submerged operations particularly dangerous.
Despite these challenges, the F-1 and its crew made significant contributions to the Navy’s understanding of submarine warfare, helping to lay the groundwork for future developments.
The Day the F-1 Was Lost
The Navy’s early experience with submarines was a constant drumbeat of human tragedy. On December 17, 1917, the F-1 collided with her sister ship, the USS F-3, while on a training cruise on a particularly foggy night. The F-3’s bow struck the F-1, causing catastrophic damage to its hull. The F-1 sank rapidly, taking 19 of its 22 crewmembers down with it. This was only two years after the loss of the USS F-4 off the coast of Hawaii due to severe mechanical failure.
The incident highlighted the inherent dangers of submarine operations, particularly in an era when safety protocols and rescue capabilities were extremely rudimentary. The Navy conducted an investigation into the collision, which attributed the accident to poor visibility and the challenges of coordinating multiple submarines in close proximity. While no formal blame was assigned, the loss of the F-1 prompted renewed efforts to improve submarine design, training, and operational procedures.
(Re)Discovering the F-1
WHOI’s research team demonstrated the power of undersea drones. After more than 100 years of searching for the wreck of the submarine, according to Live Science, the research team “had worked out the submarine wreck’s rough location from Navy records and [the] AUV Sentry was sent out to survey the area. It located the wreck on the first afternoon of searching.”
Once the unmanned system identified the wreckage, the research team deployed the HOV and found that the submarine was “remarkably intact,” despite having been buried beneath the saltwater of the Pacific Ocean for a century.
This discovery answers the century-old mystery of what happened to the USS F-1’s wreckage. What’s more, it brings some measure of closure in one of the US Navy’s earliest submarine accidents.
The F-1’s final resting place is considered a national monument. As we come off the heels of Memorial Day, we should remember the sacrifice of those brave 19 sailors aboard the USS F-1.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Krofoto.
