Submarines in WW1
USS Seal
USS Seal, the first U.S. submarine built by Simon Lake. Mr. Lake was the only competitor of John Holland and is credited with the following design aspects of the modern submarine: escape trunk, conning tower, diving planes, control room, and the rotating, retractable periscope. See: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-g/g1.htm
Built at Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Va.
- Length overall 161'
- Normal displacement: 400 Tons
- Submerged displacement: 546 Tons
- Designed depth 200'
- 6 18" Torpedo tubes
- Designed speed: surface 14, submerged 10
- Internal combustion engine, 1200 hp
- Fuel: 12,000 gallons
Robert Franklin Menefee, U.S. Navy, Decatur County, Indiana
“I did five-month service in Canada in Naval aviation and was shipped Charleston South Carolina, where I was placed in Division 8 Submarine Force, US Atlantic Fleet on the US Submarine 0-3. We sailed from Charleston South Carolina to the Azores and from there to Savanna Georgia and from there to Cuba, were we stayed one-month. We went from there north and I got released in New London, Connecticut, serving one year in the Navy.
Diagram of Austrian, Italian, American, German and French Submarines
Freedom’s Triumph, Courtesy of Indiana War Memorial Archives
Earl Dow Greer, Master Mechanic 2C, U.S. Navy, Vanderburg County, Indiana
Enlisted May 15, 1918 at Indianapolis, Indiana and on the following 21 st, reported for duty at Great Lakes. Entered as a Landsmen for radio, but owing to the wait, asked to be sent overseas. Reached New York City on July 4 and the following September 1, arrived at New London, Connecticut submarine base along the East Coast. “On September 26, I was ordered to go aboard the USSC 191, then sailing for Brest, France. We arrived at Bermuda at the latter part of September and then sailed to Porto del Gotto, Azores. After repairs, we sailed for Portugal and Lisbon. We were ordered to go South and pick up 20 submarines of the German government, operating between Gibraltar in Genoa, Italy. We arrived there just in time to finish the Gibraltar barrage. Our division sunk three submarines. Soon the armistice was signed and we sailed home, but didn't reach home until the latter part of May.
Marion Francis Howe, Seaman, 2nd Class Navy, Tippecanoe County, Indiana
Entered service April 9,1917. Stationed at Great Lakes Naval Training School, Ill. Assigned to the U. S. S. “ Michigan.” Transferred to an Oil Tanker and made one trip to England. Transferred to the U. S. S. “President Lincoln,” and on his fourth trip the boat
was sunk by a German submarine, May 30, 1918, two days out from France, was picked up by a destroyer and brought to New York. After a 15-day furlough he was assigned to military police duty in New York in rounding up slackers. Was later assigned to the transport “Corrello,” where he made trips between France and the United States. Born at West Point, Ind., June 9, 1893, son of William and Phoebe Howe. Home is Lafayette. Ind.
Frank Charles Hillman, AEF, Ripley County, Indiana
“Transport was attacked by submarines, second and third days out from Liverpool. Both were sunk. One transport sank because of damage after making port at Liverpool.
“One trip to the front with ammunition started out with twenty-one trucks. Returned with three. Five were damaged beyond repair. This was at St. Mihiel in drive toward Metz.”
James Earl Buchanan, Private, Decatur County, Indiana
“On the night of October 13, 1918 at 11: PM, as we were entering the Irish Sea from the Atlantic, our ship was chased and torpedoed by a German submarine. We got to land however, but our battleship was damaged considerably.”
Forrest S. Rypolt, U.S. Army, Engineers, Decatur County, Indiana
“Was in submarine battle in Biscayne Bay in August 11, 1918. One day before landing in Brest, France and official credit was given on destroying 4 German submarines on that day. The NS Ship Main, on which they were three Companies of the 44th Engineers, had several very narrow escapes, one torpedo from a submarine missing the Main about 40 feet. This is said to be one, if not the most perfect submarine attack in war.”
Harold Hooker, Sergeant, Field Artillery, Tippecanoe County, Indiana
Entered service in April, 1917, enlisted in Coast Artillery and sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo. Transferred to Camp Totten, N. Y., where on June 16, 1917, he was made Lance Corporal. Transferred to the National Army and was sent to Camp Meade, Md., where he was given the rank of sergeant in Truck Co. No.3, 304 th Ammunition Train. Was made a Sergeant of Ordnance on April 18, 1918, and was sent overseas in July, 1918. Near the entrance of the Irish Sea, the troop ships were attacked by two submarines but without damage to the fleet. One “sub” was destroyed by a depth bomb and the other escaped. When the armistice was signed he was attending a school in France. Born at Rochester, Ind., June 9, 1898, son of Brainard and Eva A. Hooker. Graduate of West Lafayette high school. Home is Dayton, Ind.
One of four German U-Boats turned over to the US arrives in New York, the U-111, showing one of two large guns on deck.
National Archives Photo Courtesy of Indiana War Memorial Archives
Edward Andrew Snyder, 139th Field Artillery, Decatur County, Indiana
“Enlisted in Co. B., 4 th Indiana Infantry, June 22, 1917. Mobilized at Camp, Wolf, Rushville, Indiana August 5, 1917. Arrived at Camp Shelby, August 22, 1917, and August 1, 1917 the 4 th Indiana was reorganized into heavy Field Artillery known as the 139th Field Artillery Motorized, using oversize 155 mm Howitzers. We trained in Shelby until September 22, 1918. We left for overseas, going to Camp Upton, Long Island. Left Hoboken, New Jersey October 6, 1918 on English ship, HMS Cedric and after being torpedoed October 16 and damage slightly, landed at Liverpool, England, October 17, 1918. Left South Hampton England for France, October 21, 1918, landing at Cherebourg, October 22, 1918. Going on to American Artillery Training Camp, Camp DeMeucore, arriving November 9, 1918. Arrived at Camp Pontauezen, December 1, 1918, getting ready to sail for (illegible), Brest, France. President (Wilson) arrived Brest on December 13. The 139 th included in the bunch to meet him. Sailed from Brest, France December 15, 1918 on the USS George Washington, arrived at Hoboken, New Jersey, December 22, from there to Camp Meredith New Jersey, and then to Fort Benjamin Harrison Indiana, were we were demobilize January 15, 1919.”
Homer L. Ingram, K-1 Submarines, Clark County, Indiana
“Nothing could have been farther from his natural taste and proclivities then to enter upon the Naval career, but he entered the Academy without protest, and he made the best of his Naval training. Lieutenant Homer L. Ingram was the second son of William T. and Anna L. Ingram and was graduated from the Jeffersonville High School, Culver Military Academy and the Naval Academy at Annapolis. He displayed great aptitude for mechanical engineering, and after six months overseas training in submarine work at New London, he went overseas in late fall of 1917 attached to the K-1 submarine. He had a hard and strenuous time overseas. In March 1918, he returned, much broken down in health, but after a rest of three months, he resumed his duties at Washington DC under rear Admiral William S. Benson, USN President of Emergency Fleet Corporation in which duty he was employed at the time of his death. He was stricken with influenza which developed into double pneumonia and he died at the Naval Hospital, Washington DC September 27, 1918.”