Through the Looking Glass - Submarine History 1900 to 1940

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The H-Boats

Launch of USS H-1 May 7, 1913 at Union Iron Works, San Francisco, Ca
This highly reworked photo came from a San Francisco area newspaper
and was retouched to make newspaper reproduction more visible.

USS H-1 & USS H-2 alongside the USS Cheyenne Feb. 22, 1917
All three vessels have dressed ship to celebrate George Washington's Birthday.

USS H-1 & USS H-2 moored in Coos Bay, Oregon.
The first submarines to visit the Oregon town. circa 1917.
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

USS H-1 (ex-Seawolf) SS 28

USS H-1 aground off Santa Margarita Island, Baja California, Mexico 12 March 1920.
Four men including the Captain, Lt. Comdr. James R. Webb, were killed in the grounding.
Webb, James LCDR(CO); Giles, Harvy W. MM1; Delamain, William H. SN; Kosman, Joseph SN
Original Photo from the Private Collection of Ric Hedman

USS H-1 aground off Santa Margarita Island, Baja California, Mexico 12 March 1920.
Crew removing gear and personal affects from the submarine.
Repair ship Vestal can be seen to the right. Unidentified tug to the left.
Original Photo from the Private Collection of Ric Hedman

USS H-1 aground off Santa Margarita Island, Baja California, Mexico 12 March 1920.
Crew removing gear and personal affects from the submarine.
Unidentified tug can be seen behind the H-1.
Original Photo from the Private Collection of Ric Hedman

USS H-1 aground off Santa Margarita Island, Baja California, Mexico 12 March 1920.
Unidentified tug can be seen behind the H-1.
Original Photo from the Private Collection of Ric Hedman

USS H-1 aground off Santa Margarita Island, Baja California, Mexico 12 March 1920.
Repair Ship USS Vestal is seen beyond the H-1. Vestal pulled the H-1 of the beach
but the H-1 sank shortly after and was abandoned. She was struck by th Navy on April 12, 1920.
Original Photo from the Private Collection of Ric Hedman

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USS H-1 crew shipwrecked on beach on Santa Margarita Island, Baja California, Mexico March 1920.
The second man from the left and the fartherest seated man to the right in the back row are most likely
Gunners Mate Chief W.L. Albrecht and Quartermaster Chief Brooks. Which is which is not known.
The fourth man from the left, seated, with the lanyard around his neck is also seen standing on the left
with the flag covered bodies of his shipmates seen in the photo below.
Original Photo from the Private Collection of Larry Vredenburgh

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USS H-1 aground on shore on Santa Margarita Island, Baja California, Mexico March 1920.
Crew members are rigging a towing bridle to attempt salvage of the sub by the Vestal.
Original Photo from the Private Collection of Larry Vredenburgh

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USS H-1 aground on shore on Santa Margarita Island, Baja California, Mexico March 1920.
Crew members are pulling a cork raft ashore used in ferrying the towing bridle to the H-1 to attempt salvage of the sub by the Vestal.
Original Photo from the Private Collection of Larry Vredenburgh

Four men including the Captain, Lt. Comdr. James R. Webb, were killed in the grounding.
Bodies of the two the men recovered are draped in US Flags before burial.
Interesting to note the difference in the two flags.
On the left is a 48 star flag and on the right is a 13 star naval ensign.
Shown are the bodies of Seaman William H. Delamain (Left) and Harvey.W Giles MM1(Right).
I was finally able to read the names written on the planks used for markers.
I have been able to determine the bodies of Commnding Officer
LCDR James Webb and Seaman Joseph Kosman were never located.
Original Photo from the Private Collection of Ric Hedman

LCDR James Webb as a Midshipman, known as "Jimmy" and also as "The Major" at the Naval Academy and was well liked by fellow midshipmen.
US Naval Academy Photos. Thanks to James Haas for the photos.

Photo of
Seaman William H. Delamain
Born May 22, 1901 - Died March 12, 1920
Delamain's body was subsequently returned to College Point and on April 8th, 1920,
interred in the family plot in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Flushing, Queens, New York.
Seaman William H. Delamain was just a few weeks shy of his 19th birthday when he died.

More on William Delamain HERE

Original Photo from the Private Collection of James Haas

Crew member observes the makeshift grave on the beach for Harvey.W Giles MM1, (Right) and Seaman William H. Delamain, (Left). Santa Margarita Island, Baja California, Mexico 12 March 1920. The bodies were recovered by the Navy and returned to the United States for burial.

Original Photo from the Private Collection of Ric Hedman

News Paper Clippings by James Haas

USS H-2 (ex-Nautilus) SS 29

USS H-2 moored in Coos Bay, Oregon.
Towns folks on the pier to see the vessels. circa 1917.
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

USS H-3 returning from Seattle to Bremerton, WA

USS H-3 (ex-Garfish) SS 30 returning from Seattle to Bremerton, WA March 1914.
Lt. Munroe is on the bridge. H-3 had been refueling in Seattle and returns to Puget Sound Navy Yard.
Photo courtesy of national Archives

H-3 under construction at Moran Shipyard, Seattle, Wa
Photo courtesy of National Archives

Launching the USS H-3 from the Moran Shipyard, Seattle, Wa, July 3, 1913
Photo courtesy of Seattle Post Intelligencer Newspaper

USS H-3 at Mare Island Naval Ship Yard Jan. 30, 1914
Torpedo Room looking forward.
Note torpedo reload on the deck on the right side of the picture.
Photo courtesy of National Archives

USS H-3 Torpedo Room looking aft.
The curtained areas to Port and Starboard are berthing for the Captain and XO.
The two stanchions have the notched arms for holding torpedos in line with the tubes for loading.
Photo courtesy of National Archives

H-3 after battery compartment. The view is looking aft to the engineroom door.
This compartment was a combination of crews berthing, galley and messing and maneuvering room.
The Astern - Stop - Ahead indicators for each engine / motor are on either side of the door.
The shaft turns logs for each shaft are just above the indicators.
Electrical switching gear can be seen on each side of the compartment.

Photo courtesy of National Archives

H-3 after battery compartment. The view is looking at the engineroom door.
The Astern - Stop - Ahead indicators for each engine / motor are on either side of the door.
The shaft turns logs for each shaft are just above the indicators.
Photo apears to have been taken about 5:25 by the clock in the upper left corner of the close-up.
Photo courtesy of National Archives

USS H-3 on the beach.
USS H-3 aground near Eureka, California 16 December 1916.
The Cruiser USS Milwaukee, CL-21, attempted to pull the submarine off the beach but became stuck herself and was a total loss. Her hulk was sold for scrap.
The H-3 was finally salvaged and returned to service.

USS H-3 on the beach.
The wrecked US Submarine H-3 laying on the beach at Eureka, CA
The Cruiser USS Milwaukee, can be seen in the background.
She attempted to pull the submarine off the beach but becamestuck herself and was a total loss.

USS H-3 on the beach.
The wrecked US Submarine H-3 laying on the beach at Eureka, CA. Tow cables can be seen attached to the bow.
Photo courtesy of Leszek Erenfeicht who lives in Poland.

The Cruiser USS Milwaukee, CL-21, aground on the beach at Samoa Island off Eureka, CA. Coxswain T. S. Decker, the first man to leave the Milwaukee, is shown in the breeches buoy. The crew can be seen lined up on deck to be taken off in the same manner or by boat. The Milwaukee was a total loss.

USS H-3 conning tower with the 2 periscopes visible.

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USS H-3 with crew on deck. Location is thought to be San Diego, CA. circa 1915
Note the three extra chain fairleads for the towing gear on the deck edge.
Image provided by Bill Lightfoot

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USS H-3 with crew on deck. Location is thought to be San Diego, CA. circa 1915
The man on the bow is holding a heavy indicating that the sub may be away from the dock either for the photo or just leaving or mooring. Image provided by Bill Lightfoot

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USS H-3 with crew on deck for a formal crew photo. Location is thought to be San Diego, CA. circa 1915 Image provided by Bill Lightfoot

H 3 in dry dock at Mare Island
The two crewmen are identified as "Bubbles & Van"
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

H 3 in dry dock at Mare Island.
The two crewmen are identified as "Bubbles & Van".
The men are standing on the port bow plane of the H-3.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

H-3 in dry dock
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

H-3 Topside watch Van clowns for crew on dock.
The USS L-6 and an other unidentified sub are in background.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

H-3 loading a Mark 7 - Bliss-Levitt torpedo
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

H-3 loading a Mark 7 - Bliss-Levitt torpedo
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

H-3 crew members. Harry Fields is identified as being in the photo.
Based on other pictures it appears he is in the front row, third man from left.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

H-3 crew on deck at sea. Notice gangway plank bolted to deck.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

H-3 deck at sea with gangway plank bolted to deck.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

H-3 crew on deck and conning tower.
Gunners mate Long is at top of masts. View is looking forward.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

USS H-3 at sea from the bridge. Good detail of radio antenna insulator.

USS H-9 on the left & USS H-3 on the right in dry dock at Mare Island
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

H-3 torpedo room
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

Interior of the H-3. It is unclear what space this is, probably crew berthing.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

Helm of the H-3
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

H-3 engine room facing forward.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

H-3 engine room facing aft
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

USS H-3 with USS F-3
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

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All six H-Boats in frame at Bremerton Naval Shipyard. H-4 thru H-9 were shipped from Canada in crates and assembled at the same time at Bremerton. Only four of the boats are visible in this photo.
The submarines had originally been built for Tsarist Russia but were not shipped due to the Russian Revolution.
The subs were built and disassembled and crated and were to be shipped to Vladivostok and shipped by train across Russia for reassembly on the Baltic. The US bought them for addition to the US Fleet for WW I. Essentially these were huge "kit boats", just assemble them.
Under the crane can be seen the almost completed hull of the USS O-2
Original Photo from the National Archives

USS H-4 on launch day, Oct. 9, 1918 at Bremerton Naval Shipyard
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

USS H-4 Crew and yard workers on deck in preparation for launching.
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

USS H-4 crew and yard workers on the back deck.
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

Crew standing on the deck of another submarine underconstruction

Crewmen of another sub under construction shown at far right in large photo.
May be the the H-9 due to the incomplete nature of the hull shown in next photo.
USS H-9 was launched November 23, 1918.
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

Torpedo tube outer doors shown.
Shutter door operating arm hull penetration shown to the right of the two tube doors
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

USS H-4's official launching dignitaries. One of the two women
is Mrs. Ralph O. Davis, the ships' sponsor.
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

The Fessenden oscillator for communication

A good photo of the subs Fessenden Oscillator for underwater communication.
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

Yard workers wait under the hull to knock the bracing loose
to allow the submarine to slide down the ways into the water.
Notice that each man has a sledgehammer to do his job.
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

Workers waiting under the forward part of the hull.
Note sledgehammers to be used to launch the submarine.
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

A few of the onlookers to the launching.
Possibly family of the sub sailors and yard workers.
Photo provided by Rick Larson MMCM (SS) (ret.)

USS H-4 on launch day, Oct. 9, 1918 at Bremerton Naval Shipyard.
It looks to be a very grey and damp day the
way the flags are hanging on the sub.
US Navy Photo

USS H-4 SS 147

H-boats San Pedro, CA. circa early 1920's. USS H-9, USS H-6 & USS H-5 The two left hand boats can't be positively identified as H-class submarines. The men have been doing their laundry and it is drying in the sunshine. The notation on the back of the photo says these boats are moored at "Berth 'M' Pedro".

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The torpedo room of the newly assembled submarine USS H-5. Shown on either side in the lower storage racks are two of the four reloads for the torpedo tubes. The submarine could carry a total of eight torpedoes with one in each tube and one a reload for each tube.

The reloads were lifted by the chain-hoists shown on the near ends of the curving overhead tracks shown in the overhead of the photo and then moved into position along the track. At this time the torpedo was swinging free and would have been very difficult to control in an other than smooth sea. These are Bliss-Levitt Mark 7 torpedoes. I can't determine the Mod number due to the lack of detail.

The large wheel shown above the tubes is to turn the heavy bow casting that closed off the outer ends of the torpedo tubes. There were two openings that allowed the firing of the torpedoes. These were asymmetrical and allowed a top tube on one side and a bottom tube on the other to be fired. The the cap was then rotated and the other two tubes were then able to be fired.
US Navy Photo

Conning tower H-5. An officer or Chief is standing forward of the con,
Torpedo loading hatch is open to aid in cooling and ventilating the boat.

USS H-6 SS 149

USS H-6 off San Pedro with 3 Battleships.
Submarine H-6, BB on left is either Wyoming BB-32, or Arkansas BB-33.
Closest BB on right is either South Carolina BB-26, or Michigan BB-27.
No clear view of third BB. Circa 1919.
Many thanks to Steve Reichmuth for providing the historical information.

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USS H-6 sitting still for a nice photo on a calm San Pedro Bay, circa 1920. You couldn't ask for a more idyllic scene for a photo. On the deck behind the Conning Tower are a civilian man and woman taking in the experience.

US Navy Photo

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US Navy Photo

Conning tower USS H-6. Sailor to the left of the conning
tower is either working or relaxing in the shade. All hatches seem
to be open to help cool and ventilate the boat

H-6, H-7, H-8 and H-9 moored at San Pedro Submarine Base in 1919.
These boats were 4 of 6 such EB boats originally to go to Russia
but the delivery was not made because of the Russian Revolution. Some
(and maybe all) of them were partially completed and parts shipped to Puget
Sound Naval Shipyard where they were assembled.
Photo provided by Stan Lintner, his father, Harold Lintner, served aboard the H-8 as a Chief Radioman

USS H-7 SS 150

USS H-8 SS 151 under construction, Bremerton, Washington.

This photo taken on August 9, 1919 shows a mixed group of H-8 crew and
movie actors including Wallace Beery, (right center, second row),
Jane Novak and Hobart Bosworth, (left center, second row), with
USS H-8 in the background disguised as the German U-98. The real Captain of
the boat, Lt. Cooke is in his normal uniform (center front) as is CRM Harold Lintner,
kneeling, 1st man, bottom row at left side of photo. A number of the crew are dressed
as german sailors and worked as extras in the movie. This silent movie was called "Behind the Door".
Photo provided by Stan Lintner, his father, Harold Lintner, served aboard the H-8 as a Chief Radioman

Some crew up for air aboard the USS H-8 sometime in 1919.
They were maybe on the way back to the base after the day's
exercises and just trying to get some fresh air after a day spent down
below. The blonde haired man on the right is CE(R) Harold W. Lintner.
I think that meant he was a Chief Electrician qualified to operate
and maintain radio equipment and was the rating before there was a
radioman rate per se. This was in the very early days of naval radio.
On submarines, many times the radioman was responsible
for all the electrical equipment as well as the radios.
Later on his rate was changed to CRM, (Chief Radioman).
Photo provided by Stan Lintner, his father, Harold Lintner, served aboard the H-8 as a Chief Radioman

USS H-8 SS 151 in dry dock, Mare Island Aug. 1920
Another sub is at the right in the photo.

USS H-8 SS 151 in dry dock, Mare Island Aug. 1920
Crew on deck. It is not clear if the sub is entering or leaving the dock.

USS H-8 SS 151

USS H-8 at Redondo Beach, Calif. Feb 5, 1920.

USS H-8 at Redondo Beach, Calif. Feb. 5, 1920.

USS H-9 SS 152 launch day November 23, 1918

Conning tower USS H-9. Three crew are standing on the aft deck.

H-9 assisting diver training at San Pedro, Ca
Diver is Harry Wayne Fields, crewman from the H-3
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

H-9 in dry dock Mare Island Shipyard, CA
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

Stern of H-9 shown while in dry dock, Mare Island Shipyard, CA.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fields Snider whose Uncle, Harry Fields took the photos or is in them.

USS H-9 SS 152 off San Pedro, Ca.

USS H-9 with the USS MINNEAPOLIS C-13 and the Hospital Ship USS Comfort AH-3 in the background.

H-9 on the surface. Signalman with flag is standing on top of periscope sheers
Photo provided by Stan Lintner, his father, Harold Lintner, served aboard the H-8 as a Chief Radioman

USS H-9 diving off San Pedro, CA

The USS H-9 surfaces off San Pedro, Ca

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