• H Class Submarine
• Keel laid: Laid down, as Seawolf, March 22, 1911, at Union Iron Works, San Francisco, CA.; Renamed H-1, November 17, 1911
• Launched: May 6, 1913
• Commissioned: December 1, 1913
• Displacement: 358 tons surfaced; 467 tons submerged
• Length: 150′ 4″
• Beam: 15′ 10″
• Depth limit: 200′
• Complement: 2 officers, 23 enlisted
• Armament: four 18″ torpedo tubes, eight torpedoes

H-1 sailed for San Pedro, California, on January 6, 1920, transiting the Panama Canal on February 20th via Norfolk, Virginia, Key West, Florida, and Havana, Cuba. On March 12, 1920, as H-1 made her way up the coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, the submarine went aground on a tricky shoal off Santa Margarita Island.

The submarine was underway in the early morning darkness. Thinking that the vessel was near the entrance to the bay, her Captain ordered a turn to starborad, and the boat quickly ran aground in the huge breakers.

Four men, including the commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander James R. Webb, died as they tried to reach shore. Vestal (AR-4), a repair ship, pulled H-1 off the rocks in the morning of March 24th, only to have her sink 45 minutes later in some 50 feet of water. Salvage was abandoned. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on April 12, 1920. Her hulk sold for salvage scrap in June 1920, but was never recovered.

The wreck of H-1 was found again in 1992.

Naval Historical Center

Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

H-1 (SS-28) off the Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut, with her crew on deck, circa 1919.

On the heels of sadness and grief comes new life.

Dave is now ‘papa’ and the first granddaughter is born. Congratulations to the new father and mother! Natalie Camille Raye, welcome!

born on March 5, 2007 @ 3:37pm

• Gar Class Submarine
• Keel laid: February 14, 1940, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT
• Launched: December 23, 1940
• Commissioned: May 23, 1941
• Displacement: 1,475 tons surfaced; 2,370 tons submerged
• Length: 307′ 2″
• Beam: 27′ 3″
• Test depth: 250′
• Complement: 5 officers, 54 enlisted
• Armament: ten 21″ torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, one 3″/50 dual purpose deck gun, two .50 cal. machine guns, two .30 cal. machine guns

In company with GRAYBACK, GRAMPUS departed Brisbane on February 11, 1943 for her sixth war patrol from which she failed to return; the manner of her loss still remains a mystery today.

Japanese seaplanes reported sinking a submarine on February 18th in GRAMPUS’ patrol area, but GRAYBACK reported seeing GRAMPUS in that same area March 4th. On March 5th two Japanese destroyers, themselves lost 2 days later, conducted an attack in Blackett Strait, where a heavy oil slick was sighted the following day, indicating that GRAMPUS may have been lost there in a night attack or gun battle against the DD’s.

When repeated attempts failed to contact GRAMPUS, the valiant submarine was reluctantly declared missing and presumed lost with all hands.

Naval Historical Center

Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Patch(es) were obtained from:
NavSource Online (Submarine Photo Archive).
Originally contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)

Why is it that when a family member dies that the family gathers around and vows among themselves that they will, from this point forward, take all their relationships far more seriously? They’re not just saying this for appearances. They truly mean it. The passing of a loved one hits us deep down and touches deep rooted emotions.

My real question. What ever happens to this commitment made from the deepest of our souls? 2 months later, 6 months, 1year later? We typically forget. We return to our lives as if it never happened. What causes us to ‘forget’ until the death of a loved one, to forget the importance of making each day count for those that matter?

• Perch Class Submarine
• Keel laid: February 25, 1935, at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT
• Launched: March 9, 1936
• Commissioned: November 19, 1936
• Displacement: 1,330 tons surfaced; 1,997 tons submerged
• Length: 300′ 7″
• Beam: 21′ 5″
• Depth limit: 250′
• Complement: 5 officers, 45 enlisted
• Armament: six 21″ torpedo tubes, 18 torpedoes, one 3″/50 deck gun, two .50 cal machine guns, four .30 cal machine guns

Perch’s (SS-176) plaque photographed by Kevin Denlay, December 2006

Perch began her second combat cruise in February, assigned to help defend the East Indies from the Japanese offensive. Initially patrolling off Celebes, she received damage in an attack on an enemy ship on the 25th, and was then transferred to the waters north of Java. During the night of March 1st she was the object a depth charge attack by two destroyers, which left her in a crippled condition. Another depth charging the next day made her problems even worse. Perch attempted to leave the area, but was trapped half-submerged in shallow water. Surrounded by enemy ships, her Commanding Officer ordered the submarine abandoned and scuttled early on March 3, 1942. Her officers and men were promptly taken captive, and several of them did not survive the more than three years they spent as prisoners of war.

Naval Historical Center

Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Patch(es) were obtained from:
NavSource Online (Submarine Photo Archive).
Originally contributed by Mike Smolinski.