USS R-3
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USS R-3 (SS-80), also known as "Submarine No. 80", 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 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-3Template:'s keel was laid down on 11 December 1917, by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on 18 January 1919,Template:Sfn sponsored by Mrs. Florence McCord,Template:Sfn and commissioned on 17 April 1919, at Boston, Massachusetts.Template:Sfn
Service history
1919–1934
After shakedown off the Massachusetts coast, R-3 was assigned to Submarine Division 9 at New London, Connecticut. She departed New London, with the coaling ship Template:USS, on 4 December 1919, for Norfolk, Virginia, and a winter deployment with the division in the Gulf of Mexico, from 13 January to 27 March 1920. R-3 returned to New London, on 18 May, for four months of summer exercises with her sister boats Template:USS and Template:USS.Template:Sfn When the US Navy adopted its hull classification system on 17 July 1920, she received the hull number SS-80.Template:Sfn She sailed on 13 September, for Norfolk, and overhaul.Template:Sfn
R-3 was transferred to the Pacific Fleet, with Division 9, on 8 April, transited the Panama Canal, on 28 May, and arrived 30 June, at her new base, San Pedro, California. After operating for two years in California waters, she was transferred 16 July 1923, to Pearl Harbor, where she was stationed for the next years, engaging in training and operations with fleet units.Template:Sfn
R-3 was reassigned, 12 December 1930, to the Atlantic Fleet for duty with Division 4. She arrived on 9 February 1931, at New London. After acting as a training ship at the Submarine School, in New London, for five months, she was ordered 6 May, to Washington, DC, for air purification tests by the Naval Research Laboratory. In 1932, R-3 conducted sound and radio experiments for the laboratory and trained personnel from the Deep Sea Diving School, off Piney Point, Maryland.Template:Sfn
R-3 was placed in reduced commission, 26 April 1933, and after testing low-pressure valves for the Naval Research Laboratory, departed for Annapolis, Maryland, on 2 June 1933, where she served as a training ship for future generations of submariners. She sailed 22 February 1934, for Guantanamo Bay, and sound operations with Eagle 58, followed by training duty at Washington, DC, with the Deep Sea Diving School. R-3 was decommissioned 10 August 1934, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.Template:Sfn
1940–1948
R-3 recommissioned 19 August 1940, at New London, and was attached to Division 42, and after a brief period at New London, 23 October to 10 December, headed for Coco Solo. Patrols and training duties followed, and in mid-1941, she returned to New London, to prepare for transfer to the Royal Navy. Decommissioned and transferred 4 November 1941, R-3 was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 7 November 1941. She continued her career in British home waters as HMS P.511, a training submarine, until returned to the US Navy, in the United Kingdom, 20 December 1944.Template:Sfn
Fate
While enroute to the scrappers, she was beached on 12 November 1947. She later foundered at her moorings on 21 November 1947, at Karnes Bay.Template:Sfn She was scrapped at Troon, Scotland, in 1948.Template:Sfn
References
Bibliography
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External links
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