F-class

Design, Construction, and Naming Notes

The F-class were harbor defense submarines designed by the Electric Boat Company (EB) of New York City (later Groton, CT.) They were built by two different yards: F-1 and F-2 were constructed at Union Iron Works of San Francisco. F-3 and F-4 were built at The Moran Company of Seattle, the first submarines built in the Pacific Northwest. These boats were originally named Carp, Barracuda, Pickerel, and Skate (in order). On November 17, 1911, while still under construction, the Navy changed its naming convention for submarines and these boats received their F-class names. They were commissioned with the F names in mid 1912 and early 1913. F-2 and F-3 survived long enough to have their original general submarine series designation changed to the SS series on July 17, 1920. F-1 and F-4 had been lost in accidents by that time and were not officially redesignated.

F-1 (Submarine #20)

Photo contributed by Darryl Baker from the files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.

F-2 (Submarine #21, later SS-21)

F-3 (Submarine #22, later SS-22)

F-4 (Submarine #23)