K-1

K-1 sliding downs the ways on September 3, 1913 from the Fore River Shipbuilding Co., Quincy, MA. She was sponsored by Mrs. Albert Ware Marshall. Originally contracted as the USS Haddock but the name was changed while under construction on November 17, 1911 to K-1. On top of the bridge fairwater can be seen the steering pedestal. Right where the hull meets the water at the bow the bottom mounted mushroom anchor can just be seen getting wet for the first time.

U.S. Navy photo

K-1 on the surface in a moderate sea, location unknown circa 1914-1915. She has just crested a wave and water is draining from her superstructure. The captain was taking a bit of a risk running on the surface in this sea with the engine room hatch open.

U.S. Navy photo NH 99399 via NHHC.

K-1 underway in the Atlantic Ocean off the New England coast early in her career, approximately 1914-1915. During this time she was operating out of Naval Station Newport, R.I. and Submarine Base New London, CT. This is one-half of a stereopticon image, with the card this came from being over 100 years old. It was nominally in color, a rare process for those days, and the color has faded over the years. The card itself was in excellent shape, but the orange splotches on it are an artifact of the age of the image.

K-1 has a temporary pipe frame and canvas bridge rigged and there are two tall ventilation cowls at each end of the fairwater. Her torpedo loading derrick is rigged on the aft deck, an unusual location as this boat did not have any stern torpedo tubes. There is a small streamlined fairing on the aft deck near the flagstaff, its purpose is unknown.

Stereopticon image courtesy of RMC(SS) Alan L. Miller, USN of Chesapeake Coins & Currency of Chesapeake, VA.

This is a closeup of the photo on the previous page, showing K-1 at Horta, Faial in the Azores in late October 1917. 18 of her 28 man crew are topside. There was undoubtedly a lot of interest in the port where they were patrolling from. Most of these men had probably never been out of the United States, many of them had never left their hometown prior to joining the Navy.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

This closeup shows at least two officers and three Chiefs on the conning tower fairwater. There is not much of a breeze blowing, the National Ensign is hanging limp.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

Another photograph of K-1 shortly after her arrival at Horta, Faial, in the Azores in late October 1917. She is nearly at a dead stop. There is little if any wake. Given the position of the photographer, it is likely she is getting underway from the side of her tender, the protected cruiser USS Chicago.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

K-1 is shown in the background of this photo, taken at Key West, FL. in April 1920 as she and a number of other submarines made a Panama and Caribbean cruise. The submarine in the foreground is thought to be the USS O-15 (SS-76) as the photo taker, George Peterson, was assigned to that submarine as a cook striker. The sub on the left is a Government design S-class submarine, which one is not known.

The diagonal mark seen just under the K-1 bow is not a photo defect. It is an insulator attached to the aft stanchion and to the wire antennas running to the spreaders on the telescoping radio mast of O-15. If you look closely, you can faintly see the wires.

Clothing has been washed on O-15 and is set to dry on a guy wire running the length of the deck.

Photo in the private family collection of George Peterson, grandson of George Peterson who served on O-15.

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