USS R-19 (SS-96)

USS "R-19" (SS-96) was an "R"-class coastal and harbor defense submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down by the Union Iron Works of San Francisco, California on 23 June 1917. She was launched on 28 January 1918 sponsored by Mrs. Robert L. Irvine, and commissioned on 7 October 1918 with Lieutenant Commander William F. Callaway in command.

Following commissioning, which occurred one month before the Armistice with Germany ending World War I took effect, "R-19" remained on the West Coast of the United States for nine months at San Pedro, California, until March 1919 then at San Francisco, California, undergoing overhaul, until June 1919. On 17 June 1919, "R-19" got underway from the United States and commenced a transit to the Territory of Hawaii. Eight days later the submarine arrived at Pearl Harbor and commenced almost twelve years of training submarine crews and testing equipment.

During July 1920, the hull classification symbol of "R-19" was changed from "Submarine Number 96" to "SS-96."

On 12 December 1930, "R-19" departed Pearl Harbor and commenced a transit to the Philadelphia Navy Yard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. En route, the submarine called at San Diego, California; moved south to the Panama Canal Zone; negotiated the Panama Canal; then moved north through the Caribbean Sea and the coastal waters of the East Coast of the United States; and, finally, on up Delaware Bay and Delaware River to Philadelphia.

On 15 May 1931, "R-19" was decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and placed in the reserve fleet at that yard where she remained berthed at League Island for the next nine years.

"R-19" recommissioned on 6 January 1941, then transited to the United States Naval Submarine Base at Groton, Connecticut, where she reconditioned. During May 1941, "R-19" headed south. During the remainder of the spring, summer, and into the fall, the R-boat patrolled and conducted training exercises in the Virgin Islands and off the Panama Canal Zone. During October 1941, "R-19" returned to Groton and continued her role as a training submarine.

On 9 March 1942, "R-19" was decommissioned and transferred to the United Kingdom, under the terms of Lend-Lease. Commissioned into the Royal Navy, the former "R-19" was renamed HMS "P.514".

At 0300 on 21 June 1942, "P.514" was bound for St. Johns, Newfoundland when it encountered HMCS "Georgian", a Canadian Navy minesweeper. Unaware of any friendly submarines in the area and receiving no reply to its challenge, "Georgian" rammed "P.514", which sank with the loss of all hands. [cite web |url=http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/centennial/background/background_e.asp?category=70&title=193 |title=Canadian Navy Background Information June |publisher=navy.forces.gc.ca |accessdate=2008-07-04] A board of inquiry ruled that the commanding officer of "Georgian" had acted correctly.

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