Submarine USS R-19 (SS-96)

Submarine USS R-19 (SS-96) 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 he 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-19 (Submarine Number 96) was laid down on 23 June 1917 by the Union Iron Works at San Francisco, California... under a subcontract from the Electric Boat Company of New York. The submarine was christened by Mrs. Robert L. Irvine and launched on 28 January 1918. Commissioning took place on 7 October 1918 with Lieutenant Commander William F. Callaway 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.

Following commissioning, which occurred one month before the Armistice ending the shooting phase of the First World War took effect, USS R-19 remained on the west coast of the United States for nine months...at San Pedro, California, until March of 1919...then at San Francisco, California, undergoing overhaul, until June of 1919.

On 17 June 1919, USS R-19 got underway from the Continental United States (CONUS) and commenced a transit to the Territory of Hawaii. Eight days later the submarine arrived at Pearl Harbor...and commenced almost twelve years of training submarine crews and testing equipment.

During July of 1920, the designation of USS R-19 was changed from "Submarine Number 96" to "SS-96."

On 12 December 1930, USS R-19 departed Pearl Harbor and commenced a transit to the Philadelphia Navy Yard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. En route, the submarine called at San Diego, California; moved south to the Panama Canal Zone; negotiated the Canal; then moved north through the Caribbean Sea and the coastal waters of the east coast of the United States; and, finally, on up the Delaware Bay and River to the City of Brotherly Love.

On 15 May 1931, USS R-19 (SS-96) was decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and placed in the reserve fleet at that Navy yard...where she remained for the next nine years.

On 6 January 1941, USS R-19 was recommissioned; then transited to the United States Naval Submarine Base at New London/Groton, Connecticut...where she reconditioned.

During May of 1941, USS R-19 headed south. During the remainder of the spring, summer, and into the fall, the R-boat patrolled and conducted training exercises in the Virgin Islands and off the Panama Canal Zone.

During October of 1941, USS R-19 returned to New London/Groton and continued her role as a training submarine.

On 7 December 1941, the Japanese attacked civilian and military installations in the Territory of Hawaii...thus plunging the United States into the Second World War as an active participant.

On 9 March 1942, USS R-19 (SS-96) was decommissioned...then was transferred to the Royal Navy, under the terms of Lend-Lease, on that same day.

Commissioned into the Royal Navy of Great Britain, the former USS R-19 was renamed "HMS P.514" by the British.

HMS P.514 was rammed by HMCS Georgian, a unit of the Canadian Navy, in the Western Atlantic Ocean, on 21 June 1942. She went down for the last time with all crew members on board. None were saved.

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