Hull Number: SS-89
Last Captain: LCDR Edward E. Shelby
Date Lost: 12 June 1943
Location: Off Key West
Fatalities: Fatalities: 42. Five men, including the captain, one other officer and three enlisted men had been on the bridge and survived. Two Brazilian officers were among those lost.
Cause: Foundered
Construction
R-12 was an R-1 class coastal defense submarine completed by Fore River Shipbuilding Company at Quincy, MA in September of 1919. Fore River was building R boats during WW1 using the Electric Boat Company designs.
Loss Narrative
On 12 June 1943, R-12 put to sea from Key West. She was preparing for a torpedo exercise when the collision alarm was sounded due to flooding in the forward battery compartment. (This was done so that all watertight doors would be closed.) The captain immediately ordered all hatches closed and all main ballast blown. However, the ocean was faster than the air blowing out main ballast. The boat sank in about 15 seconds.
The five men on the bridge were the only survivors. They were the captain, executive officer and three enlisted men. The 42 men lost includes two Brazilian Navy officers. Fortunately, 18 crew members of the R-12 were on liberty that day, and were spared the fate of their shipmates.
Although the wreck has been located by the Lost 52 Project, we still don’t know the cause of the flooding in the forward battery. A torpedo tube open to the sea is suspected even though there are interlocks to prevent such an occurrence.
(The Lost 52 Project website indicates that they have, so far, located six of the missing WW2 boats. We know the locations of 17 of the WW2 boats, including those that went aground or were bombed in port. In addition. we know the locations of three of the boats lost after the war.)
The five men on the bridge were the only survivors. They were the captain, executive officer and three enlisted men. The 42 men lost includes two Brazilian Navy officers. Fortunately, 18 crew members of the R-12 were on liberty that day, and were spared the fate of their shipmates.
Although the wreck has been located by the Lost 52 Project, we still don’t know the cause of the flooding in the forward battery. A torpedo tube open to the sea is suspected even though there are interlocks to prevent such an occurrence.
(The Lost 52 Project website indicates that they have, so far, located six of the missing WW2 boats. We know the locations of 17 of the WW2 boats, including those that went aground or were bombed in port. In addition. we know the locations of three of the boats lost after the war.)
Prior History
R-12 was built during World War 1. She operated on the East Coast until was assigned to the Pacific. She transited the Panama Canal and arrived at San Pedro in July of 1920 and proceeded to Hawaii in September of that year. She operated in Hawaiian waters until December of 1930.
R-12 then got underway, along with other R boats, a tender and a submarine rescue ship, for New London, arriving there in February of 1931. She then underwent an overhaul and trained sailors from the Submarine School. In September of 1932, R-12 sailed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard and joined that reserve fleet. She was decommissioned in December of 1932.
R-12 was recommissioned in ordinary in July of 1940 to serve only as a training submarine. She sailed for Panama where she arrived in December of 1940 for an inspection and shipyard availability. After that, she returned to New London. She operated on the East Coast and in Cuban waters.
LCDR Shelby went on to a successful command of the USS Sunfish (SS-281), sinking over 45,000 tons of Japanese shipping in four patrols.
R-12 was a training boat and did not have a combat record.
R-12 then got underway, along with other R boats, a tender and a submarine rescue ship, for New London, arriving there in February of 1931. She then underwent an overhaul and trained sailors from the Submarine School. In September of 1932, R-12 sailed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard and joined that reserve fleet. She was decommissioned in December of 1932.
R-12 was recommissioned in ordinary in July of 1940 to serve only as a training submarine. She sailed for Panama where she arrived in December of 1940 for an inspection and shipyard availability. After that, she returned to New London. She operated on the East Coast and in Cuban waters.
LCDR Shelby went on to a successful command of the USS Sunfish (SS-281), sinking over 45,000 tons of Japanese shipping in four patrols.
R-12 was a training boat and did not have a combat record.
Submarine Photo
Captain Photo
LCDR Edward E. Shelby