USS R-20
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USS R-20 (SS-97), also known as "Submarine No. 97", was an R-1-class coastal and harbor defense submarines of the United States Navy commissioned shortly before the end of World War I.
She was recommissioned before the US entered World War II, for use as a training boat.
Design
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:SfnTemplate: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:SfnTemplate:Sfn
Construction
R-20Template:'s keel was laid down on 4 June 1917, by the Union Iron Works, in San Francisco, California. She was launched on 21 January 1918,Template:Sfn sponsored by Mrs. Maud Foster,Template:Sfn and commissioned on 26 October 1918, with future Vice Admiral, Lieutenant Commander Alfred E. Montgomery in command.Template:Sfn
Service history
1918–1931
Fitted out at San Pedro, California, R-20 remained off southern California, operating between San Pedro and San Diego, until March 1919. She then moved to San Francisco; underwent overhaul, and on 17 June got underway for the Territory of Hawaii. She arrived at the newly commission Naval Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, on 25 June.Template:Sfn
When the US Navy adopted its hull classification system on 17 July 1920, she received the hull number SS-97.Template:Sfn
She served with the fleet, training submarine personnel, and assisting in the development of submarine equipment, and tactics, for over a decade. On 12 December 1930, she departed Pearl Harbor, and headed for the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and inactivation. She arrived at Philadelphia, on 9 February 1931; decommissioned on 15 May; and was berthed at League Island.Template:Sfn
1941–1946
R-20 recommissioned on 22 January 1941. In April she shifted to New London, Connecticut. There she trained personnel and conducted patrols until June. She then moved south to Key West, Florida, arriving on 22 June, to spend the remainder of her career as a training ship.Template:Sfn
Fate
R-20 decommissioned at Key West, on 27 September 1945, and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 11 October 1945. On 13 March 1946, she was sold to Macey O. Scott, of Miami, Florida.Template:Sfn
References
Bibliography
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External links
Template:Military navigation Template:WWI US ships Template:WWII US ships