USS R-11 (SS-88)

USS "R-11" (SS-88) was an "R"-class coastal and harbor defense submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts, on 18 March 1918. She was launched on 21 July 1919 sponsored by Miss Dorothy Batchelder, and commissioned on 5 September 1919 with Lieutenant Commander Charles S. Alden in command.

"R-11" remained inactive at Boston, Massachusetts with a crew of only two men for two months following commissioning. Then, with the new year 1920, she commenced training cruises along the New England coast and, in April, to Bermuda. On completion of training cruises, she returned to New London, Connecticut, whence she sailed 31 May for the Pacific. Given hull classification symbol SS-88 in July, she arrived at Pearl Harbor on 4 August. Homeported there for the next ten years, she conducted operations in the Hawaiian area, searched for missing ships, including the seagoing tug "Conestoga" (AT-54), and planes; participated in tactical exercises; and engaged in fleet maneuvers.

On 12 December 1930, the R-boat departed Pearl Harbor for the last time and steamed east to San Diego, California, whence she continued on through the Panama Canal, to New London. She returned to that Thames River base 9 February 1931 and for the remainder of the decade served as a training ship primarily for the Submarine School at New London and occasionally for NROTC units in the southern New England area. Transferred to Key West, Florida, on 1 June 1941, "R-11" continued her training ship duties throughout the remainder of her career.

Decommissioned 5 September 1945, "R-11" was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 11 October 1945; sold to Macey O. Smith Miami, Florida, 13 March 1946; and scrapped in 1948.

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