USS R-27 (SS-104)

USS "R-27" (SS-104) was an "R"-class coastal and harbor defense submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on 16 May 1917 by the Lake Torpedo Boat Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut; the R-boats built by Lake Torpedo Boat (R-21 through R-27) are sometimes considered a separate class from those built by Fore River Shipbuilding (R-1 through R-14) and Union Iron Works (R-15 through R-20). She was launched on 23 September 1918 sponsored by Mrs. Mary Louise Foster, and commissioned 3 September 1919 with Lieutenant William C. Burgy in command.

Assigned duty with Submarine Division 1 in the Panama Canal Zone, "R-27" got underway for her homeport of Coco Solo on 1 November. She arrived at Coco Solo 11 December and conducted operations out of that port and out of Balboa. Given hull classification symbol SS-104 in July 1920, she interrupted her five years in the Canal Zone with an overhaul at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, during the winter of 1921-1922 and a run to Pearl Harbor for exercises in early 1923. On 1 November 1924, she departed Coco Solo for the last time. On 24 November she arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, whence she was towed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There she was decommissioned 24 April 1925 after only five-and-a-half years of service. She was berthed at League Island until struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 9 May 1930. Her hull was sold for scrapping the following July.

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