USS R-2

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USS R-2 (SS-79), also known as "Submarine No. 79", was an R-1-class coastal and harbor defense submarines of the United States Navy commissioned after the end of World War I.

Due to space constraints, the boats built at the Fore River Shipbuilding Company yard, were laid down much later than the boats built at the Union Iron Works and the Lake Torpedo Boat Company yards. Because of this, none were commissioned before the end of WWI.

Design

The R-boats built by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Template:USS through Template:USS, and the Union Iron Works, Template:USS through Template:USS, are sometimes considered a separate class, R-1-class, from those built by the Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Template:USS through Template:USS, R-21-class.Template:Sfn

The submarines had a length of Template:Convert overall, a beam of Template:Cvt, and a mean draft of Template:Cvt. They displaced Template:Convert on the surface and Template:Cvt submerged. The R-1-class submarines had a crew of 2 officers and 27 enlisted men. They had a diving depth of Template:Cvt.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

For surface running, the boats were powered by two Template:Convert NELSECO 6-EB-14 diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a Template:Convert Electro-Dynamic Company electric motor. They could reach Template:Convert on the surface and Template:Cvt underwater. On the surface, the R-1-class had a range of Template:Convert at Template:Cvt, or Template:Cvt if fuel was loaded into their main ballast tanks.Template:Sfn

The boats were armed with four [[American 21-inch torpedo|Template:Convert]] torpedo tubes in the bow. They carried four reloads, for a total of eight torpedoes. The R-1-class submarines were also armed with a single [[3"/50 caliber gun|Template:Cvt/50 caliber]] deck gun.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

Construction

R-2Template:'s keel was laid down on 16 October 1917, by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on 23 September 1918,Template:Sfn sponsored by Mrs. Sarah Cooke,Template:Sfn and commissioned at Boston, Massachusetts, on 24 January 1919, with Lieutenant Commander Charles Maynard "Savvy" Cooke, Jr., in command.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

Service history

After acceptance trials in Cape Cod Bay, R-2 was assigned to Submarine Division 9 of the Atlantic Fleet. and based at New London, Connecticut. She departed New London, on 4 December 1919, bound for Norfolk, Virginia, and winter division maneuvers in the Gulf of Mexico. Returning to New London, on 28 May 1920, she joined her sister boats Template:USS and Template:USS, for four months of summer exercises off southern New England.Template:Sfn

When the US Navy adopted its hull classification system on 17 July 1920, she received the hull number SS-79.Template:Sfn

R-2 headed for Norfolk on 13 September 1920, for an overhaul.Template:Sfn

R-2 was transferred to the Pacific Fleet, on 14 April 1921, she transited the Panama Canal, on 28 May 1921, and arrived on 30 June 1921, at her new base, San Pedro, California. She took part in fleet exercises off Central America, from 5 February to 6 April 1923. Returning to San Pedro, on 10 April 1923, R-2 was ordered to Hawaii, on 16 July, with submarine Division 9 and remained there for eight years, developing submarine tactics with the Pacific Fleet. She made an endurance cruise to Midway Atoll, in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, in July and August 1924.Template:Sfn

Leaving Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 12 December 1930, R-2 was reassigned to the Atlantic Fleet, and arrived at New London, via the Panama Canal, on 9 February 1931. She was attached to Submarine Division 4 and for the next ten years served as a training ship for the Submarine School, at New London, and for the Yale University Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps unit.Template:Sfn

Assigned to Submarine Division 12, on 1 June 1941, R-2 departed New London, on 16 June, and arrived on 22 June 1941, at Key West, Florida, her new home port. Based there for the remainder of her career, she was attached to the Fleet Sonar School, and assigned periodically to defensive patrols in keeping with her limited operational capabilities.Template:Sfn

On 25 August 1942, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Template:USCGC mistakenly opened gunfire on R-2 near Key West. R-2 sustained no damage.Template:Sfn

Fate

In the spring of 1945, with the approach of German capitulation, R-2 was ordered to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for inactivation. Arriving there on 1 May 1945, she was decommissioned on 10 May 1945, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 2 June 1945. She was sold to Rosoff Brothers, of New York City, on 28 September 1945, then resold to the Northern Metal Company, of Philadelphia, in October 1945, and scrapped in early 1946.Template:Sfn