USS R-26 (SS-103)

USS R-26 (SS-103) was an R-class coastal and harbor defense submarine built for the United States Navy during World War I.

USS R-26 preparing to submerge at the Philadelphia Navy Yard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 22 September 1923.
History
United States
Name: USS R-26
Ordered: 29 August 1916
Builder: Lake Torpedo Boat, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Laid down: 26 April 1917
Launched: 18 June 1919
Commissioned: 23 October 1919
Decommissioned: 12 June 1925
Stricken: 9 May 1930
Fate: Sold for scrap, July 1930
General characteristics
Class and type: R-class submarine
Displacement:
  • 497 long tons (505 t) surfaced
  • 652 long tons (662 t) submerged
Length: 175 ft (53 m)
Beam: 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m)
Draft: 13 ft 11 in (4.24 m)
Installed power:
  • 1,000 bhp (750 kW) (diesel)
  • 800 hp (600 kW) (electric)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) surfaced
  • 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) submerged
Range: 3,523 nmi (6,525 km; 4,054 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) on the surface
Test depth: 200 feet (61.0 m)
Complement: 29 officers and enlisted men
Armament:

Description

The R-boats built by Lake Torpedo Boat Company (R-21 through R-27) are sometimes considered a separate class from those of the other builders. The Lake boats had a length of 175 feet (53.3 m) overall, a beam of 16 feet 8 inches (5.1 m) and a mean draft of 13 feet 11 inches (4.2 m). They displaced 497 long tons (505 t) on the surface and 652 long tons (662 t) submerged. The R-class submarines had a crew of 3 officers and 23 enlisted men. They had a diving depth of 200 feet (61.0 m).[1]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 500-brake-horsepower (373 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 400-horsepower (298 kW) electric motor. They could reach 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) on the surface and 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) underwater. On the surface, the Lake boats had a range of 3,523 nautical miles (6,525 km; 4,054 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)[1] and 150 nmi (280 km; 170 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged.[1]

The boats were armed with four 21-inch (53.3 cm) torpedo tubes in the bow. They carried four reloads, for a total of eight torpedoes. The R-class submarines were also armed with a single 3"/50 caliber deck gun.[2]

Construction and career

R-26 was laid down 26 April 1917 by the Lake Torpedo Boat Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She was launched on 18 June 1919 sponsored by Mrs. J. Walter Barnett, and commissioned on 23 October 1919 with Lieutenant Joseph C. Arnold in command. Homeported at Coco Solo in the Panama Canal Zone, R-26 departed New London, Connecticut, on 26 November 1919 and arrived in the Canal Zone 11 January 1920. Given hull classification symbol SS-103 in July, she spent her entire career operating out of Coco Solo. Interrupting her service in those waters only for overhauls at Balboa and on the East Coast, she returned to the United States for inactivation in January 1925. Arriving at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 25 January, she was decommissioned on 12 June after only five-and-a-half years of service. She was berthed at League Island until struck from the Naval Vessel Register in May 1930. Her hull was sold for scrapping in July of that year.

Notes
  1. Friedman, p. 308
  2. Gardiner & Gray, p. 129

References
  • Friedman, Norman (1995). U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-263-3.
  • Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  • This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
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