A closeup of the R-5's conning tower fairwater, 1922. the R-class had a very narrow periscope shears, and when the permanent bridge fairwater was added it created a noticeable bulge. Just below the bridge is the round circular deadlight windows that allowed the crew in the conning tower itself to see out while underwater. It was common to see men topside while the boat was surfaced, as it allowed them to temporarily escape the hot and humid conditions below. These boats did not have air conditioning.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman
June 17, 1923 finds the R-5 someplace in or near the Panama Canal. She was normally home ported at San Pedro (Los Angeles), California, her home since 1921. The back of the photo clearly states that the location of the photo is in the Panama Canal and gives the date. There seems to be a shoreline in the background but no detail is evident.
In January 1923 she was used in the filming of the Twentieth Century-Fox motion picture, "The Eleventh Hour." In what capacity isn't known since the movie has become a lost film and the plot is unclear.
She had been engaged in war games with the Pacific battle fleet in the Gulf of Fonseca from February 5 to April 6, 1923. The Gulf of Fonseca is a shallow body of water that fronts the Central America countries of El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, about 700 square miles in area.
