R-15 under construction at the Bethlehem San Francisco yard, formerly known as the Union Iron Works. BSF/Union Iron Works was Electric Boat's primary west coast contractor in the early years, having built nine submarines to their designs previous to R-15.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman
R-15 crew portrait. The location could be San Pedro or San Francisco, California circa July 1918. The submarine looks to be almost unused and the paint fresh. This could be a commissioning photo. That would make one of the two Lieutenants seen on the deck, Lt. Thales S. Boyd, the commanding officer. By count there are 36 crew members on deck. Three officers, six Chiefs, and twenty-seven enlisted. The class was billeted for two officers and twenty-seven enlisted. So, at this time she was over-crewed by nine. There is one crewman standing at the bow. Why he is there and not with the rest of the crew is not known.
Photo courtesy of the Submarine Force Library & Museum.
Closeups of the crew photo above, giving better views of the crew. In the last photo several men are standing on the pier. They are likely from another submarine.
Courtesy of the Submarine Force Library & Museum.
A closeup of the photo on the previous class page of the R-15 underway in Panama, late fall 1918. Aft of the conning tower fairwater are three coils of lines no doubt to be used as lock lines for when the boat enters one of the canal locks. There, also, appears to be some sort of fairing placed around the engine room hatch. A crew man is seen sitting on its edge with feet braced on the wire lifelines. It is hard to make out but the barrel for the 3"/23 caliber deck gun is mixed in with the legs of the two Chiefs just forward of the conning tower.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman
R-15 (left) is shown with R-17 (SS-94) (right) at Submarine Base Pearl Harbor 1923-1924. The base was growing rapidly in these years. The petroleum tank farm that can be seen in the background did not exist two years earlier.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman
R-15 moving up to moor at Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, approximately 1923. The large building in the background sat on the southern tip of the small islet of Kuahua, now a peninsula within the harbor.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman
The first of two photos of R-15 transiting in the main channel in Pearl Harbor, with the shipyard in the background, circa 1923. This photo and the next were taken in quick succession as the boat moved down the South Channel near the turning basin.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman
The second of two photos of R-15 transiting in the main channel in Pearl Harbor, with the shipyard in the background, circa 1923.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman
Two views of R-15 moored alongside a civilian merchant vessel, approximately 1923. Location is unknown but is likely in Hawaii, possibly Honolulu or Hilo. The identity of the civilian ship is unknown, but it bears a strong resemblance to the Matson Line SS Lurline II. That ship was a frequent visitor to the islands in the early 1920's.
Photos in the private collection of Ric Hedman
Two views of the R-15's bell, taken by Ric Hedman in 2006. The bell is in the possession of a private collector and is being well cared for.
