R-17 under construction at the Bethlehem San Francisco yard, July 5, 1918, about five weeks until commissioning. There was a rush to get the boat commissioned and off to the war. But ultimately R-17 was to not see combat in WWI.
National Archives photo.
R-17 heads down the channel at Pearl Harbor, approximately 1923. The minelayer ex-Baltimore (CM-1), once a cruiser and a veteran of the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898, lays at her berth in the background. Her hulk would remain in the harbor for another 20 years until she was finally sold for scrap in 1942.
R-17 is likely headed out on one of her routine 1-2 day training runs at sea. Submerged runs and torpedo firings were likely.
National Archives photo.
R-17 at sea in very rough weather. The sub looks to be diving but men can be seen on the bridge. The sub just happens to be in trough between waves to make it look that way. The triangle painted on the conning tower superstructure has identified this as the R-17. Location most likely off Hawaii, circa early 1920's.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.
Another photo taken shortly after the one above. The boat is not diving, it is just in a trough between waves.
