USS H-6

Last updated
NH-53609 USS H-6 underway, circa 1922 with Sub Division 6 emblem on conning tower..jpg
H-6 underway, c. 1918, off San Pedro, California, with Submarine Division 6 emblem on conning tower
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameH-6
Orderedby the Imperial Russian Navy, 1915
Builder
Cost$564,423.12 (hull and machinery) [1]
Laid down14 May 1918
Launched26 August 1918
Sponsored byMiss Catherine Ely
Commissioned9 September 1918
Decommissioned23 October 1922
Stricken26 February 1931
Identification
FateSold for scrapping, 28 November 1931
General characteristics [2]
Type H-class submarine
Displacement
  • 358 long tons (364 t) surfaced
  • 467 long tons (474 t) submerged
Length150 ft 4 in (45.82 m)
Beam15 ft 10 in (4.83 m)
Draft12 ft 5 in (3.78 m)
Installed power
  • 950  hp (710 kW) (diesel engines)
  • 600 hp (450 kW) (electric motors)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 14  kn (26 km/h; 16 mph) surfaced
  • 10.5 kn (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) submerged
Range
  • 2,300 nmi (4,300 km; 2,600 mi) at 11 kn (20 km/h; 13 mph) surfaced
  • 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) at 5 kn (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth200 ft (61 m)
Capacity11,800  US gal (45,000 L; 9,800 imp gal) fuel
Complement
  • 2 officers
  • 23 enlisted
Armament4 × 18 inch (450 mm) bow torpedo tubes (8 torpedoes)

USS H-6 (SS-149) was an H-class submarine originally built for the Imperial Russian Navy. Six of these were not delivered, pending the outcome of the Russian Revolution of 1917, before being purchased by the United States Navy, on 20 May 1918.

Contents

Design

The H-class submarines had an overall length of 150 ft 4 in (45.8 m), a beam of 15 ft 10 in (4.8 m), and a mean draft of 12 ft 5 in (3.8 m). They displaced 358 long tons (364 t) on the surface and 467 long tons (474 t) submerged. They had a diving depth of 200 ft (61.0 m). The boats had a crew of 2 officers and 23 enlisted men. [3]

USS H-4 - General Arrangement - NARA - 75841758 USS H-4 (SS-147)- General Arrangement - NARA - 75841758.jpg
USS H-4 - General Arrangement - NARA - 75841758

For surface running, they were powered by two New London Ship & Engine Company 475- brake-horsepower (354 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by two 170-horsepower (127 kW) Electro-Dynamic Company electric motors. They could reach 14  kn (26 km/h; 16 mph) on the surface and 10.5 kn (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) underwater. [3] On the surface, the boats had a range of 2,300  nmi (4,300 km; 2,600 mi) at 11 kn (20 km/h; 13 mph) and 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) at 5 kn (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged. [4]

The boats were armed with four 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes in the bow. They carried four reloads, for a total of eight torpedoes. [4]

Construction

H-6 was laid down on 14 May 1918, at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, she had been already been preassembled by the British Pacific Construction and Engineering Company, in Vancouver, Canada, for Imperial Russian Government, which had failed to exist in September 1917. She was launched on 26 August 1918, sponsored by Miss Catherine Ely, and commissioned on 9 September 1918. [2]

Service history

As part of Submarine Division 6 (SubDiv 6) and later SubDiv 7, H-6 was based at San Pedro, California. From there, she operated along the West Coast, participating in various battle and training exercises with her sister submarines. Occasional patrol duty off Santa Catalina Island, and overhauls at the Mare Island Navy Yard varied this training routine. [2]

Fate

Departing San Pedro, on 25 July 1922, with SubDivs 6 and 7, H-6 reached Norfolk, Virginia, on 14 September. She decommissioned there on 23 October. H-6 was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 26 February 1931. She was sold for scrapping on 28 November 1933. [2]

References

Bibliography

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