F-1 collision
Legacy

Messang was married to Hulda Maria Klassy and had a son and a new daughter just a few months before the F-1 sinking. Messang joined the Navy in 1904 and had recently begun his fourth enlistment with the Navy at the time of the accident.
His wife and family received word of his death via a telegram from Admiral L. C. Palmer from the Navy. The telegram said this; "The USS F-1 was rammed by another submarine at 7 p. m., Monday December 17, (1917) during a fog, the F-1 sinking immediately. It is with deepest regret that the bureau must convey to you the sad news that your husband, John P. A. Messang, Chief Machinist's Mate, was lost in the sinking of the F-1. No additional information is at hand at this time. You have the sincere sympathy of the bureau in the loss of your husband."
The USS F-1 is the only submarine to be lost by the U.S. during World War I.
Photos in the private collection of Ric Hedman.
1986 site visit

Image scanned from "U.S. Submarines 1900-35" by Jim Christley.

Photo provided by MMCM(SS) Rick Larson, USN, (Ret.)

USN photo courtesy of Steve Lawson of California Wreck Divers.

USN photo courtesy of Steve Lawson of California Wreck Divers.

USN photo courtesy of Steve Lawson of California Wreck Divers.

USN photo courtesy of Steve Lawson of California Wreck Divers.

USN photo courtesy of Steve Lawson of California Wreck Divers.

USN photo courtesy of Steve Lawson of California Wreck Divers.

USN photo courtesy of Steve Lawson of California Wreck Divers.

USN photo courtesy of Steve Lawson of California Wreck Divers.

USN photo courtesy of Steve Lawson of California Wreck Divers.
2025 site visit
The first photo shows the wreck from directly forward of the bow, with the prow and the rotating bow cap for the torpedo tubes clearly visible. The second and third photo are of the bridge and periscope shears, and it is apparent that this area at least is still quite intact. The surface helm wheel is quite visible. The fourth photo is a closeup of the hole in the engine room made by the F-3's prow. The fifth photo is of the port side propeller, stern planes, and rudder.
Images by Zoe Daheron and Bruce Strickrott. ©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Used with permission.

This combined photographic and sonar photogrammetry image shows the whole wreck site. The wreck is listing far over on her starboard side, much further than the 1986 imagery suggests. As can be seen, a large portion of the forward deck has corroded away, including some features shown in the 1986 images. There is also a chunk of the aft superstructure skeg missing.
Click image to enlarge.
Photogrammetric reconstruction by Zoe Daheron, ©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Used with permission.
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