USS F-2 (SS-21)

USS Barracuda/F-2 (SS-21), also known as "Submarine No. 21", was an F-class submarine in the United States Navy (USN). She was the first ship of the USN named for the barracuda, though she was renamed F-2 prior to launching.

Design

The F-class boats had an overall length of Template:Cvt, a beam of Template:Cvt, and a mean draft of Template:Cvt. They displaced Template:Cvt on the surface and Template:Cvt submerged with a diving depth of Template:Cvt. The F-class submarines had a crew of 1 officer and 21 enlisted men.Template:Sfn

For surface running, the boats were powered by two Template:Convert NELSECO diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a Template:Convert electric motor. They could reach Template:Cvt on the surface and Template:Cvt underwater. On the surface, the boats had a range of Template:Cvt at Template:CvtTemplate:Sfn and Template:Cvt at Template:Cvt submerged.Template:Sfn

The F-class submarines were armed with four 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes in the bow, no reloads were carried.Template:Sfn

Construction

BarracudaTemplate:'s keel was laid down by Union Iron Works, of San Francisco, California, on 23 August 1909. She was launched on 19 March 1912, sponsored by Miss Annette Reid Rolph, daughter of James Rolph, the mayor of San Francisco. She was renamed F-2 on 17 November 1911, and commissioned on 25 June 1912.Template:Sfn

Service history

F-2 joined the 1st Submarine Group, Pacific Torpedo Flotilla, in operations between San Diego, California, and San Pedro, out of San Pedro Submarine Base, the Flotilla's base. She continued to play an important part in developing tactics and coordinating the use of undersea craft with the fleet during an extended training period in the Hawaiian Islands, the boats towed to their destination by armored cruisers, from August 1914 through November 1915.Template:Sfn

After lying in ordinary at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, between 15 March 1916 and 13 June 1917, F-2 became flagboat of Division 1, Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet. Returning to operations out of San Pedro, she participated in surface and submerged exercises, torpedo-proving practice, experiments in balancing at various depths, and trained prospective crews of new submarines.Template:Sfn

Fate

On 18 September 1919, she was placed in reserve commission at San Pedro, to be used in elemental school work until decommissioned at Mare Island, on 16 March 1922. She was sold on 17 August.Template:Sfn

Bibliography

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External links

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