December Lost Boats
USS Capelin (SS-289)
Lost on Dec 2, 1943 with the loss of 76 men. She was on her 1st war patrol, but her exact location, date and cause of loss remain a mystery. She may have been lost to mines or an operational casualty.
Class: SS 285
Commissioned: 6/4/1943
Launched: 1/20/1943
Builder: Portsmouth Navy Yard
Length: 312, Beam: 27
#Officers: 10, #Enlisted: 71
Fate: Lost in December 1943 in the Celebes Sea, on her 1st war patrol, with 76 men lost. Cause of loss unknown.
USS Sealion (SS-195)
Lost on Dec 10, 1941 with the loss of 4 men. To prevent her from falling into enemy hands, she was scuttled in Manila Bay after incurring severe bomb damage during the initial Japanese attack. One other Sealion man was later captured and died in POW camp.
Class: SS 194
Commissioned: 11/27/1939
Launched: 5/25/1939
Builder: Electric Boat Co (General Dynamics)
Length: 311, Beam: 27
#Officers: 5, #Enlisted: 50
Fate: The destruction of the Navy Yard made repairs impossible, and Sealion was ordered destroyed. All salvagable equipment was taken off, depth charges were placed inside, and the explosives were set off to prevent her from being made useful to the enemy.
USS F-1 / Carp (SS-20)
Lost on December 17, 1917 with the loss of 19 officers and men when it was sunk after collision with the USS F-3 (Pickerel(SS-22)) off San Clemente, CA.
Class: SS F
Commissioned: 6/19/1912
Launched: 3/12/1912
Builder: Union Iron Works
Length: 143, Beam: 15
#Officers: 1, #Enlisted: 21
Fate: While maneuvering in exercises at sea, F-1 and F-3 collided, the former sinking in 10 seconds, her port side torn forward of the engine room. 19 of her men were lost, while 3 others were rescued by the submarines with whom she was operating.
USS S-4 (SS-109)
Lost on December 17, 1927 with the loss of 40 officers and men when it was sunk after being rammed by USCG Paulding. Salvaged in 1928 and recommissioned.
Class: SS S
Commissioned: 11/19/1919
Launched: 8/27/1919
Builder: Portsmouth Navy Yard
Length: 231, Beam: 22
#Officers: 4, #Enlisted: 34
Fate: S-4 was destroyed by sinking.