Submarine USS R-10 (SS-87)

Submarine USS R-10 (SS-87) was authorized to be built by the United States Congressional Act of 29 August 1916 which stated in part: "....The President of the United States is hereby authorized to undertake prior to July first, nineteen hundred and nineteen, the construction of....

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"Nine fleet submarines." Fifty-eight coast submarines, of which number three to have a surface displacement of about eight hundred tons each, to cost, exclusive of armor and armament, not to exceed $1,200,000 each, and twenty-seven, which shall be the best and most desirable and useful type of submarine which can be procured at a cost, exclusive of armor and armament, not to exceed $700,000 each, shall be begun as as soon as practical; and the sum of $8,217,000 is hereby appropriated for the construction of said submarines, to be available until expended. Not less than twelve of the submarines herein authorized to be begun as soon as practical shall be built on the Pacific coast: PROVIDED, That the cost of construction on the Pacific coast does not exceed the cost of construction on the Atlantic coast, plus the cost of transportation from the Atlantic to the Pacific."

The keel of USS R-10 (Submarine Number 87) was laid down on 21 March 1918 by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company at Quincy, Massachusetts...under a subcontract from the Electric Boat Company of New York. The submarine was christened by Mrs. Philip C. Ransom and launched on 28 June 1919. Commissioning took place at the Boston Navy Yard at Boston, Massachusetts, on 20 August 1919 with Lieutenant Commander John A. Brownell in command.

When commissioned, the R-1 Class coastal and harbor defense submarine was 186'2" in length overall; had an extreme beam of 18'; had a normal surface displacement of 569 tons, and, when in that condition, had a mean draft of 14'6". Submerged displacement was 680 tons. The submarine was of riveted construction. The designed compliment was two officers and twenty-seven enlisted men. The boat could operate safely to depths of 200 feet. The submarine was armed with four 21-inch torpedo tubes installed in the bow. Eight torpedoes were carried. One 3-inch/50 caliber deck gun was installed. The full load of diesel oil carried was 18,880 gallons, which fueled 1,200 designed brake horsepower diesel engines manufactured by the New London Ship and Engine Company at Groton, Connecticut...which could drive the boat via a direct drive system at 13.5 knots on the surface.

Submerged propulsion was provided by a 120-cell main storage battery manufactured by the Electric Storage Battery Company (EXIDE) at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...which powered 934 designed brake horsepower main propulsion electric motors manufactured by the Electro Dynamic Company at Bayonne, New Jersey...which turned propeller shafts ...which turned propellers...which could drive the submarine at 10.5 knots for a short period of time when operating beneath the surface of the sea. Slower submerged speeds resulted in greater endurances before the batteries needed to be recharged by the engines and generators.

Fitted out at the Boston Navy Yard during the fall of 1919, USS R-10 joined Submarine Division Nine, at New London/Groton, Connecticut, in early January of 1920. On 15 January 1920, USS R-10 departed the Connecticut submarine base for winter maneuvers in the Gulf of Mexico.

Based at Pensacola, Florida, the R-boat completed final trials during March of 1920, and, in mid-April, returned to New England.

On 18 May 1920, the submarine arrived at Newport, Rhode Island.

During July of 1920, the designation of USS R-10 was changed from "Submarine Number 87" to "SS-87."

During the summer of 1920, USS R-10 (SS-87) conducted operations from both the Newport and New London/Groton bases.

With the fall season, the R-boat proceeded south, again; underwent overhaul at the Norfolk Navy Yard at Portsmouth, Virginia...until April of 1921; then, transited to the Panama Canal, and onward ...for duty with the United States Pacific Fleet.

USS R-10 arrived at San Pedro, California, on 30 June 1921, for a two-year tour of duty. Toward the end of September 1921, the submarine added salvage operations to her record...as she assisted USS Cardinal in raising sunken submarine USS R-6 (SS-83) from the bottom of San Pedro Harbor on 13 October 1921...then resumed individual and squadron exercises.

During July of 1923, the R-boat transited to Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands, where, for the next 7 1/2 years, the submarine conducted training operations, including fleet problems, made occasional runs as far west as Midway, and as far east as the west coast of the United States, and participated in air-sea rescue operations for aircraft initiating transpacific air travel.

Ordered back to the United States Atlantic Fleet in 1930, USS R-10 cleared Pearl Harbor for the last time on 12 December 1930.

On 9 February 1931, the R-boat arrived at New London/Groton and assumed training duties for the Submarine School sited at the submarine base - there.

During spring of 1931, USS R-10 underwent overhaul at the Portsmouth Navy Yard at Kittery, Maine.

During the summer of 1931,the R-boat added antisubmarine warfare (ASW) destroyer training and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) cruises to her mission.

Through the 1930s, USS R-10 continued her role as a "school boat" ...and operated primarily off the New England coast, with occasional temporary duty at stations on the United States mid-Atlantic seaboard ...including the Diving School at Piney Point, Maryland, in May 1937.

During September of 1940, USS R-10 participated in United States Navy Bureau of Ordnance tests at Norfolk...then returned to New London/Groton.

During 1941, USS R-10 (SS-87) was transferred to the United States Naval Station at Key West, Florida.

The United States became an active participant in the Second World War following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

From 1941 until the winter of 1943, the R-boat alternated patrols in the Yucatan Channel and the Strait of Florida, with operations for the Fleet Sonar School at Key West. Then, for the remainder of the Second World War (which ended on 2 September 1945), the submarine concentrated on training duties.

During February and into March of 1945, the submarine operated out of Port Everglades, Florida; then returned to Key West...where she remained until 4 June 1945. On that date, USS R-10 headed north to the Philadelphia Navy Yard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...where the R-boat was scheduled to be inactivated.

USS R-10 arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 8 June 1945...and decommissioned at that Navy yard on 18 June 1945.

The submarine was struck from the Navy List on 11 July 1945.

During January of 1946, the R-boat was sold for scrapping to the North American Smelting Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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