NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Carp / F-1 (SS-20)
F Class Submarine: Laid down, as Carp, 23 August 1909, at Union Iron Works, San Francisco, CA; Launched, 6 September 1911; Renamed F-1, 17 November 1911; Commissioned USS F-1, 19 June 1912; Placed in ordinary, 15 March 1916; Placed in full commission, 13 June 1917; Sunk by collision with submarine F-3, 17 December 1917, off Point Loma, CA.; Struck from the Naval Register, (date unknown).Specifications: Displacement, surfaced 330 t., submerged 400 t.; Length 142' 7"; Beam 15' 5"; Draft 12' 2"; Speed, surfaced 13.5 kts, submerged 11.5 kts; Depth Limit 200'; Complement 1 Officer 21 Enlisted; Armament, four 18" torpedo tubes, four torpedoes; Propulsion, diesel electric, New London Ship & Engine Co., engines, 780 hp, Fuel Capacity 11,500 gal., Electro Dynamic Co. motors, 620 hp, Battery Cells 120, twin propellers.
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 | 210k | U.S. submarines (SS-20) through (SS-23). General plans prepared by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts, 18 June 1910. This sheet features inboard and outboard profile drawings. These submarines were constructed by the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California. Initially named Carp (SS-20), Barracuda (SS-21), Pickerel (SS-22) and Skate (SS-23), they were renamed F-1 (SS-20) through F-4 (SS-23) in November 1911, while under construction. The original plan is in Record Group 19 at the U.S. National Archives. | USNHC photograph # NH 84383. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1976. | ||
 | 201k | U.S. Submarines (SS-20) through (SS-23). General plans prepared by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts, 18 June 1910. This sheet features a table of dimensions, deck plans and hull section drawings. These submarines were constructed by the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California. Initially named Carp (SS-20), Barracuda (SS-21), Pickerel (SS-22) and Skate (SS-23), they were renamed F-1 (SS-20) through F-4 (SS-23) in November 1911, while under construction. The original plan is in Record Group 19 at the U.S. National Archives. | USNHC photograph # NH 84382. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1976. | ||
 | 24k | In the F class (SS-20 - 23) the conning tower is shown in dashed vertical lines between the two periscopes. This class & the E class (SS-24 - 25) introduced bow planes into Electric Boat practice. | Drawing by Jim Christley. Photo & text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Through 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. Naval Institute Press. | ||
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593k | Navy - Engines - Transportation of submarine engine for F-1 (SS-20) from New York City to San Francisco. F-1 is stationed at Mare Island. This photograph shows the engine in full view when loaded on the car. | Photo i.d. courtesy of Ric Hednan . Photographer: Paul Verkin. National Archives Identifier: 45510637 Local Identifier: 165-WW-324A-8. Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov | ||
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733k | MISS JOSEPHINE TYNAN TO CHRISTEN SUBMARINE Torpedo Boat Carp (SS-20) To Be Launched Next Month |
Image and text provided by University of California, Riverside. Photo from The San Francisco Call. (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 24 July 1911, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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1.14k | The submarine torpedo boat Carp (SS-20), the latest and most efficient type of underwater fighter, was launched yesterday at the Union Iron Works. Miss Josephine Tynan, little daughter of Joseph. J. Tynan, general manager of the Iron Works, christened the fish-like craft, and the launching was accomplished on time and without a hitch. On the launching platform were officers of the army and navy, members of the national legislature, representatives of foreign governments - and "men and women prominent in society. Before the launching, W. R. Sands, representing the Electric - Boat Company, pinned a dainty gold watch on little' Miss Tynan's breast, and President McGregor of the Union Iron Works "decorated the girl with a jeweled locket. There was a crash of breaking glass, and the Carp, its green snout dripping with champagne, went scooting down the ways and into the water, which welcomed the latest addition to the navy with a great splash." |
Image and text provided by University of California, Riverside. Photo from The San Francisco Call. (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 07 September 1911, Image 8 via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | ||
 | 1.35k | The submarine Carp (SS-20) after her launching at Union Iron Works, San Francisco on 6 September 1911. | Photo courtesy from the files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | ||
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98k | A 330 ton Carp (SS-20) lies on the surface with a # 21 painted on its conning tower probably between 6 September & 17 November 1911. If you look closely at the photo, just forward of the diving plane you can see the name "Carp ". This was the original name of the F-1 (SS-20). She carried this moniker from the time of her launching until she was renamed on 17 November 1911. She was commissioned as F-1 on 19 June 1912. This is an unusual photo. There seems to have been an attempt at painting over the print or negative. It doesn't look like they were trying to alter the photo, just trying to add an artistic element to it. |
Digital ID # 05606r, LC-H261-5023-B. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, from the Harris & Ewing Collection. Photo i.d. & text courtesy of David Johnston& Ric Hedman. | ||
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664k | Carp (SS-20) (the real photo, unlike the image above) sometime between 1910 and 1915 moored at an unknown location. The photo is erroneously labeled 'US Submarine F-4", but this is corrected in the LOC photo caption. | Library of Congress photo # LC-B2-3429-2. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, courtesy of Mike Green. | ||
 | 178k | Bow view of the F-1 (SS-20), in a West Coast harbor, 1912. A barge loaded with lumber is in the left distance. | USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org. | ||
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1.23k | Crew Faces Death When Submarine Breaks Record on Her Trial Plunge PHOTOGRAPH OF THE SUBMARINE CARP (SS-20) AND A SKETCH SHOWING HOW SHE APPEARED AT THE SURFACE ON HER UPWARD PLUNGE AFTER HER RECORD DIVE IN WHICH HER CREW NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH |
Image and text provided by Washington State Library; Olympia, WA. Photo from The Tacoma Times. (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 29 April 1912, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | ||
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1.37k | Submarine F-1 (SS-20), above is shown in front of the Santa Cruz casino. Below it is seen taking a plunge into the depths. | Image and text provided by University of California, Riverside. Photo from The San Francisco Call. (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 27 July 1912, Image 11, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | ||
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257k | SUBMARINE F-1 (SS-20) NOW MANEUVERING IN THE PACIFIC, HAS MADE NEW RECORD BY DIVING TO THE DEPTH OF 283 FEET | Image and text provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL. Photo from The Cairo Bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 17 September 1912, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | ||
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1.21k | Seas Smash Submarine F-1(SS-20) Two Sailors Die in Disaster Submarine F-1, champion of the diving flotilla of Uncle Sam's navy, which was wrecked in Monterey bay near Watsonville at daybreak on Friday. |
Image and text provided by University of California, Riverside. Photo from The San Francisco Call.(San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 12 October 1912, Image 11, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | ||
 | 84k | F-1 (SS-20), aground at Watsonville, California, in October 1912. She went ashore on 11 October and was refloated on 18 October. Two men were killed in the accident. F-1 was salvaged only to later sink in a collision with her sister ship F-3 (SS-22). | USNHC photograph # NH 84994. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1976 | ||
 | 41k | F-1 (SS-20) underway. | USNHC photograph # NH 79744. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1976. | ||
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1.22k | UNCLE SAM'S CHAMPION DIVER IN SEA TRAGEDY | Image and text provided by Washington State Library; Olympia, WA. Photo from The Tacoma Times. (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 07 January 1913, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | ||
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757k | Five destroyers in Mare Island dry dock #2 on 26 December 1912 taken from dock head of dock. Head end of the dock looking toward channel: Paul Jones (DD-10) and Preble (DD-12).
Aft end of the dock looking towards channel: Whipple (DD-15), Stewart (DD-13) and Truxtun (DD-14). The submarine F-1 (SS-20) can be seen to the left of the dry dock. |
USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | ||
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994k | F class (SS-20 - 23) submarines and their tender are in DD#2 at Mare Island on 21 January 1913. Left to right: F-3 (SS-22), F-2 (SS-21), F-1 (SS-20) and Alert (AS-4) in the background. | USN photo / MINSY # 01211913-01 courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | ||
 | 543k | A view of the bow of the submarine F-1 (SS-20) in dry dock #2 at Mare Island on 10 June 1913. | USN photo # 0372, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | ||
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985k | The submarine F-2 (SS-21) (left) and F-1 (SS-20), (right) and the USRC McCulloch are seen in Mare Island Navy Yard Dry Dock #1 on 7 March 1914. | USN photo / MINSY # 1486-3-1914 courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | ||
 | 132k | F-2 (SS-21) in drydock in 1914, with her sister F-1 (SS-20) alongside. | USNHC photograph # NH 79746, courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1976 via Robert Hurst. | ||
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1.10k | Cruisers and submarines which arrived in Honolulu harbor, this morning. from San Francisco. Upper picture: Armored cruiser West Virginia (ACR-5). Below: Her sister ship, South Dakota (ACR-9); lower picture; the submarines F-1 (SS-20) and F-3 (SS-22). | Image and text provided by University of Hawaii at Manoa; Honolulu, HI. Photo from Honolulu Star-Bulletin. (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii) 1912-current, 01 August 1914, 3:30 Edition, Page TWO, Image 2, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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 | 1.47k | From front to back: F-4 (SS-23),F-2 (SS-21), & F-3 (SS-22) and F-1 (SS-20), in port Honolulu 1914. The US Army Transport Dix is in the background. Note the "fish" flags and 13-star "boat" ensigns flown by these submarines. Photographed by Noggle. | USN photo # NH 63259, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. | ||
 | 106k | F class (SS-20 - 23) submarines at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, before World War I. This view shows the bows of F-1 (SS-20), F-2 (SS-21), & F-3 (SS-22). | USNHC photograph # NH 92187. Collection of Thomas P. Naughton, 1973. | ||
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1.09k | K Submarines in Port After Long Voyage This is the way the K submarines looked as they glided to their dock in the navy slip Thursday afternoon, completing their run of 2,180 miles from San Francisco to this port under their own power-a big feat performed in a big way, and adding fresh laurels to the American navy. In the upper picture is shown the K-8 (SS-39) slowing down as she entered the slip, the last of the four submersible to complete the voyage. The lower view shows the K-3 (SS-34) in the foreground, another K boat and the F-1 (SS-20), F-2 (SS-21), & F-3 (SS-22) in the background. |
Image and text provided by University of Hawaii at Manoa; Honolulu, HI. Photo from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii) 1912-current, 16 October 1915, 3:30 Edition, Image 17, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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84k | F-4 (SS-23) at left at anchor in Honolulu, HI. with F-1 (SS-20), centre, and F-2 (SS-21) outboard, moored together. Date unknown. | Courtesy of MMCM (SS) Greg Peterman USN Retired. Text i.d. from "The Romance of A Submarine" by G. Gibbard Jackson & submitted by Robert Hurst. |
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 | 677k | An oil painting by Peter Bull of the moment that the submarine F-3 (SS-22) rammed into her class mate F-1 (SS-20), off La Jolla, California, on 17 December 1917. | Image scanned from "U.S. Submarines 1900-35" by Jim Christley and illustrated by Peter Bull. Published by Osprey Publishing Ltd, ISBN978 1 84908 185 6, courtesy of Robert Hurst. | ||
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NR | NINETEEN KILLED ON U. S. SUBMARINE F-1 (SS-20) Is Rammed and Sunk by F-3 (SS-22) in Home Waters. FIVE SURVIVORS PICKED UP Commanding Officer Among Those Saved Lost Diver Broke World’s Record for Depth in San Francisco Bay. |
Image and text provided by Wisconsin Historical Society Photo from The Manitowoc Pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 20 December 1917, Image 2, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | ||
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644k | U. S. Submarine F-1 (SS-20), Just Sunk By the F-3 (SS-22). The F-1 was one of the old type submarines and" a sister boat of the F-4 (SS-23), which was lost in Honolulu harbor three years ago. All the men and officers at that time were suffocated. At the time it was found that the submersibles of this class" were generally faulty in construction. The F-1 was 143 feet long, was built in 1912, and cost $600,000. |
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo from The Washington Times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 20 December 1917, FINAL EDITION, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | ||
 | 53k | Commemorative photo honoring the memory of the F-1 (SS-20). | Photo courtesy of Tom Kermen. Dante's Prayer courtesy of Loreena McKennitt via loreenamckennitt.com | ||
 | 70k | Wreck of F-1 (SS-20). "A view of the deck hatch and after sail of the F-1 submarine that sank after a collision on 17 December 1917. The submarine was located and filmed by the U.S. Navy oceanographic research ship De Steiguer (T-AGOR-12) during a routine search for an aircraft that crashed into the ocean three years ago." (quoted from the original photo caption, dated October 1975). F-1 sank off the coast of California, with the loss of 19 of her crew, after colliding with her sister, F-3. | USNHC photograph # NH 99235.Collection of Thomas P. Naughton, 1973. | ||
 | 1.05k | Artists impression drawn by J.L. Christley of Avalon (DSRV-2) hovering over the wreck of the submarine F-1 (SS-20) off the coast of California. Avalon located and photographed the wreck in 1980. | Image scanned from "U.S. Submarines 1900-35" by Jim Christley and illustrated by Peter Bull. Published by Osprey Publishing Ltd, ISBN978 1 84908 185 6, courtesy of Robert Hurst. | ||
 | 91k | Memorial plaque at Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia PA, July 2006 for the crews of United States submarines lost during peace time accidents: F-1 (SS-20), F-4 (SS-23), G-2 (SS-27), H-1 (SS-28), O-5 (SS-66), O-9 (SS-70), S-4 (SS-109), S-51 (SS-162), Squalus (SS-192), Scorpion (SSN-589) & Thresher (SSN-593). The listing above shows the F-1 lost in peacetime. That is in error. It was the only US loss in WW I. The United States declared war on Germany on 6 April 1917 and the US involvement ended with the Armistice on 11 November 1918. The F-1 was lost during WW I though not to direct enemy action. | Text i.d. courtesy of Ric Hedman. Photo courtesy of Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr. | ||
 | 40k | F-1 (SS-20) on the bottom off the California coast where she sank after being rammed by the F-3 on 17 December 1917. 19 crew were lost in the ramming. First US war time loss of a submarine during World War I. Accident happened 4 ½ miles West of La Jolla Light. This photo is one taken by the DSRV in 1986. In Memorium: In the Second Book of Shmuel (Samuel), 22nd chapter, 5th through the 20th verses, translated from the original in Hebrew and published by the Koren Publishers of Jerusalem, Israel, 1982, can perhaps aptly describe the fate of the crew and all other U.S. submariners who died defending their county: "When the waves of death compassed me / the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; / the bonds of She'ol encircled me; / the snares of death took me by surprise; / in my distress I called upon the Lord, / and cried to my G-D: / and he heard my voice out of his temple, / and my cry entered into his ears. / Then the earth shook and trembled; /the foundations of heaven moved / and shook because of his anger /...the heavy mass of waters, and thick clouds of the skies /... And the channels of the sea appeared, / the foundations of the world were laid bare, / at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast at the breath of his nostrils. / He sent from above, he took me; / he drew me out of many waters; / he delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me. / They surprised me in the day of my calamity: / but the Lord was my stay / He brought me forth also into a large place: / he delivered me because he delighted in me./" | Photo provided by Rick Larson of blessed memory, courtesy of Ric Hedman / pigboats.com | ||
View the Carp / F-1 (SS-20) DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
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