- USS S-21 (SS-126)
USS "S-21" (SS-126) was a first-group ("S-1" or "Holland") "S"-class submarine of the
United States Navy . Her keel was laid down on19 December 1918 by theBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation inQuincy, Massachusetts . She was launched on18 August 1920 sponsored by Mrs. Thomas Baxter, and commissioned on24 August 1921 with Lieutenant R. P. Luker in command.Following operations from
New London, Connecticut , "S-21" was decommissioned and returned to her builder on31 March 1922 . After she was reacquired by the Navy, "S-21" recommissioned atGroton, Connecticut , on14 September 1923 with Lieutenant Commander Palmer H. Dunbar, Jr., in command. From1923 into1930 , "S-21" operated off the northeastern coast of theUnited States . From January into April1924 , she visited thePanama Canal , Saint Thomas,United States Virgin Islands , andTrinidad . Departing from New London on25 November , she visitedHawaii , from27 April to25 May 1925 , before returning to New London in July. Following duty in thePanama Canal area, from February through April1926 , she visitedKingston, Jamaica , from20 March to28 March 1927 . After operating in thePanama Canal area, from February into April1928 , she later visited St. Thomas from10 November to15 November ."S-21" served again in the
Panama Canal area from March into April1929 , and from January through February1930 . Departing New London on22 October that year, "S-21" sailed via thePanama Canal andCalifornia toPearl Harbor , arriving on7 December . From1931 into1938 , "S-21" operated fromPearl Harbor , with the period18 November 1932 to24 January 1934 spent in reserve.Departing Pearl Harbor on
15 October 1938 , she sailed via California and thePanama Canal toPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania , arriving on11 December . Following overhaul she arrived at New London on25 March 1939 . She remained at New London with a partial crew from1 June of that year until1 September 1940 , when she was returned to full duty.On
9 December , two days after the Pearl Harbor attack, "S-21" got underway for thePanama Canal Zone . Arriving ten days later, she conducted defensive patrols in thePacific Ocean approaches to the canal through May1942 . Her second such patrol,24 January to7 February , was cancelled to allow her to participate in search and rescue operations for submarine
"S-26" (SS-131),which had been rammed by submarine chaser PC-460 on the first day of the patrol.In June
1942 , "S-21" returned to New London. On14 September , she was decommissioned and was transferred to theUnited Kingdom . AsHMS P.553 , she served in theRoyal Navy until returned to theUnited States Navy , at Philadelphia, on11 July 1944 . Subsequently used as a target, she was sunk off northernNew England on23 March 1945 .References
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