Lost Subs - USS F-1 (SS-20)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Compiled July 2, 2008, by David Barth.
USS F-1 (SS-20) was an F-class submarine. She was named Carp when her keel was laid down by Union Iron Works of San
Francisco, California, making her the first ship of the United States Navy named for the carp, a freshwater fish
inhabiting the waters of Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America. She was launched on 6 September 1911 sponsored
by Miss J. Tynan, renamed F-1 on 17 November 1911, and commissioned on 19 June 1912 with Lieutenant (junior grade) J.B.
Howell in command.
Assigned to the First Submarine Group, Pacific Torpedo Flotilla, F-1 operated in the San Francisco, California, area on
trials and tests through 11 January 1913, when she joined the Flotilla for training at sea, between San Diego, California,
and San Pedro, California, then in San Diego Harbor. Between 21 July 1914 and 14 November 1915, the Flotilla based at
Honolulu, Hawaii, for development operations in the Hawaiian Islands.
F-1 was in ordinary between 15 March 1916 and 13 June 1917. When she returned to full commission, she served with the
Patrol Force, Pacific, making surface and submerged runs to continue her part in the development of submarine tactics.
Her base during this time was San Pedro, California. On 17 December 1917, while maneuvering in exercises off Point Loma,
San Diego, California, F-1 and F-3 (SS-22) collided, the former sinking in ten seconds, her port side torn forward of the
engine room. Nineteen of her men were lost, while three others were rescued by the submarines with whom she was
operating.