USS S-18 (SS-123)

USS "S-18" (SS-123) was a first-group ("S-1" or "Holland") "S"-class submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on 15 August 1918 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on 29 April 1920 sponsored by Miss Virginia Bell Johnson, and commissioned on 3 April 1924 with Lieutenant Elliot M. Senn in command.

Early years

From 1924 through 1929, "S-18" operated out of New London, Connecticut, primarily off the New England coast but with annual deployments to the Caribbean Sea for winter maneuvers and fleet problems. Transferred to the Pacific fleet in 1930, she departed New London on 24 May; operated off the California coast into the fall; and arrived at her new home port, Pearl Harbor, on 7 December.

For the next 11 years, "S-18" remained based at Pearl Harbor. In September 1941, she returned to the West Coast; and, three months later, after the United States had entered World War II, the submarine was ordered to the Aleutian Islands.

Defensive patrols

A unit of Submarine Division (SubDiv) 41, "S-18" moved north in mid-January 1942. Into March, she conducted defensive patrols out of the new and still incomplete submarine base at Dutch Harbor. In mid-March, she got underway for San Diego, California; underwent repairs there until mid-May; then returned to the Aleutians.

First war patrol

En route, on 29 May, the S-boat received orders to patrol the southern approaches to Umnak Pass in anticipation of a Japanese attack. On 2 June, she took up her station. The next day, the Japanese sent carrier planes against Dutch Harbor and landed troops on Kiska and Attu. The war in the Aleutians had begun.

Orders for submerged daylight operations in combat areas compelled the submarines of the north Pacific force, designed during World War I, to increase their submerged time to 19 hours a day. Surfaced recharging time was cut to the brief five hours of the northern summer night.

Second war patrol

Hampered by fog, rain, and poor radio reception; and lacking radar, fathometer, and deciphering equipment; "S-18" remained on patrol through 10 June. The next day, she returned to Dutch Harbor. On 13 June she was underway again to patrol west and north of Attu, then north of Kiska. The weather, as on earlier patrols, was consistently bad. Habitability in the S-boat was poor. Material defects and design limitations in speed and maneuverability continued to plague her.

On 29 June, she sighted an enemy submarine but was unable to close. The same day, she returned to Dutch Harbor; and, as at the conclusion of previous patrols, her commanding officer requested up-to-date sound and radar equipment.

Third war patrol

From 15 July to 2 August, the S-boat conducted another patrol in the Kiska area; and, on completion of the patrol, she was ordered to San Diego.

Fourth war patrol

In October, "S-18" returned to the Aleutians and, on 22 August, she cleared Dutch Harbor for her next patrol, again in the Kiska area. On 3 November, however, she was recalled and ordered to prepare for a longer, more distant patrol. On 12 November she put to sea; but, on 15 November, a crack in the starboard main engine housing forced her back to Dutch Harbor.

She arrived on 20 November, and her repairs were completed by the end of the month. On 30 November, "S-18" resumed her patrol, moved west, and operated off Kiska, Kiskinato, Agattu, and Attu. On 22 December, after 16 days in her patrol area, she lost her starboard stern plane, and depth control became erratic. On 28 December, she returned to Dutch Harbor.

Fifth war patrol

Repairs and refit took "S-18" into the new year, 1943 and, on 7 January, she got underway again. During that 28-day patrol, her last, she reconnoitered Attu and the Semichi Islands. On 4 February, she was ordered back to San Diego, for overhaul and assignment to training duty.

Retirement

For the remainder of World War II, "S-18" remained in the San Diego area, providing training services for the West Coast Sound School. In late September 1945, she moved north to San Francisco, California, where she was decommissioned on 29 October. On 13 November, her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register; and, a year later, her hulk was sold for scrapping to the Salco Iron and Metal Company in San Francisco.

"S-18" earned one battle star during World War II.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s1/s-18.htm