Submarine USS R-14 (SS-91)

Submarine USS R-14 (SS-91) 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-14 (Submarine Number 91) was laid down on 6 November 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 Miss Florence L. Gardner and launched on 10 October 1919. Commissioning took place at the Boston Navy Yard at Boston, Massachusetts, on 24 December 1919 with Lieutenant Vincent A. Clark, Junior, 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.

After shakedown off the New England coast, USS R-14 moved to the United States Naval Submarine Base at New London/Groton, Connecticut.

There, the submarine prepared for transfer to the United States Pacific Fleet. During May of 1920, the submarine commenced a transit to southern waters.

During July of 1920, the designation of USS R-14 was changed from "Submarine Number 91" to "SS-91."

USS R-14 transited the Panama Canal during July of 1920. On 6 September 1920, USS R-14 arrived at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands. There, for the next nine years, the R-boat assisted in the development of submarine and antisubmarine warfare (ASW) tactics...and participated in search and rescue operations when needed.

During a search for the tug USS Conestoga during May of 1921, the R-boat ran out of fuel southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. Sails were made from blankets and mattresses, and, after five days of sailing, the submarine made port at Hilo, Hawaii...arriving there on the 15th.

On 12 December 1930, USS R-14 cleared Pearl Harbor for the last time and headed back to Atlantic Fleet waters. Proceeding via San Diego, California, and the Panama Canal, the submarine returned to the submarine base at New London/Groton, Connecticut...arriving there on 9 February 1931...and...through the end of the 1930s, conducted training exercises for the students of the Submarine School...a tenant command at the New London/Groton base.

During the spring of 1941, USS R-14 transited to the United States Naval Station at Key West, Florida...her homeport as of 1 June.

During the fall of 1941, the R-boat returned to New London/Groton for overhaul, and, on 22 November 1941, resumed operations out of Key West.

On 7 December 1941, the Japanese attacked civilian and military targets in the Hawaiian Islands...thereby plunging the United States into the Second World War as an active participant.

Into April of 1945, USS R-14 served as a target for vessels of the Fleet Sonar School...a tenant command at the Naval Station at Key West...and patrolled in the Yucatan Channel and in the Strait of Florida.

On 25 April 1945, USS R-14 transited from Key West to the Philadelphia Navy Yard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The submarine arrived in the City of Brotherly Love in early May.

On 7 May 1945, USS R-14 (SS-91) was decommissioned ... and...on 19 May, was struck from the Navy List.

On 2 September 1945, the Japanese surrendered to the Allies on board battleship USS Missouri, which was anchored in Tokyo Bay. That action officially ended the Second World War.

On 28 September 1945, the submarine was sold to the Rossoff Brothers of New York...who resold the R-boat to the Northern Metals Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for scrapping. The vessel was scrapped the following year.

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