- USS R-4 (SS-81)
USS "R-4" (SS-81) was an "R"-class coastal and harbor defense submarine of the
United States Navy . Her keel was laid down on16 October 1917 by theFore River Shipbuilding Company inQuincy, Massachusetts . She was launched on26 October 1918 sponsored by Mrs. Albert W. Stahl, and commissioned on28 March 1919 with Lieutenant Palmer Hall Dunbar, Jr. in command.After outfitting at Boston Navy Yard, "R-4" joined Submarine Division 9 of the Atlantic Fleet at
New London, Connecticut on12 August 1919 . She sailed4 December 1919 forNorfolk, Virginia , and winter operations in theGulf of Mexico from21 January to14 April 1920 . "R-4" later returned toNew England on18 May for four months of maneuvers with her division. Givenhull classification symbol SS-81 in July, she arrived at Norfolk15 September for an overhaul lasting until April1921 ."R-4" deployed to the
Pacific Ocean on11 April 1921 , transited thePanama Canal 28 May , and arrived at her new base,San Pedro, California , on30 June . She participated in war games with the battle fleet in theGulf of Fonseca from5 February to6 April 1923 , returning to San Pedro with
"Camden" (AS-6)on10 April . "R-4" was transferred16 July with Division 9 and
"Canopus" (AS-9)toPearl Harbor where she remained for the next eight years engaged in training and operations with fleet units."R-4", ordered back to the Atlantic with Divisions 9 and 14 on
12 December 1930 , transited the Panama Canal18 January 1931 , and arrived9 February at New London. She was soon assigned to Division 4 and served as training ship for the next ten years on rotating duty between the New London Submarine School and theYale University NROTC unit. "R-4" departed New London26 May 1941 forKey West, Florida , and patrol duty in theFlorida Straits with Division 12. Back at New London for the first two weeks in July, she returned to Key West at midmonth and until March of1945 alternated duties for theFleet Sonar School with patrols in theFlorida Strait and theYucatan Channel .At
Port Everglades, Florida , from11 March to15 April 1945 , "R-4" returned to Key West to prepare for inactivation. On1 June she was withdrawn from active duty and on4 June she got underway forPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania . Escorted by "SC-1001" she arrived at Philadelphia on8 June , decommissioned on18 June and was struck from theNaval Vessel Register on11 July . The following January,1946 , she was sold for scrap to theNorth American Smelting Company.References
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