On December 17, 1917, the USS F-1, a U.S. submarine, was tragically lost at sea during a training accident off the California coast, resulting in the deaths of 19 crew members.
This significant piece of naval history has been rediscovered in remarkable detail, thanks to cutting-edge imaging technology employed during a recent expedition that took place earlier this year.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reported on the expedition, which involved collaborative efforts from various interagency teams that utilized advanced deep-sea imaging technology.
The USS F-1 collided with its sister ship, the USS F-3, during surface exercises off San Diego just eight days before Christmas in 1917.
In only ten seconds, the F-1 sank, leading to the unfortunate fate of its crew, with only five of the 24 members being rescued.
The submarine remained lost for nearly 60 years until it was spotted in 1972 by a Navy deep submersible vehicle that was on a mission to find a crashed jet fighter.
Lt. Dave Magyar, the pilot of the submersible that first located the wreck, remarked, “It looked like a big ax had hit her,” as he described the condition of the submarine upon discovery in a newspaper story from 1976.
However, due to the extreme depths at which the sub was found, a close-up survey was not feasible until now.
In a significant advancement, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, with support from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC), and the National Science Foundation, sent a human-piloted submersible named Alvin, along with a remote underwater vehicle called Sentry, to conduct more detailed examinations of the wreck.
The team leveraged sonar systems onboard Sentry and the research vessel Atlantis to methodically survey the area around the sunken submarine.
Bruce Strickrott, a senior pilot with WHOI and a veteran of the U.S. Navy, noted, “Once we identified the wreck and determined it was safe to dive, we were able to capture never-before-seen perspectives of the sub.”
In addition to investigating the USS F-1, the expedition also captured images of a U.S. Navy Avenger torpedo bomber that crashed nearby in 1950.
The advanced sonar systems allowed the team to create detailed maps of both the submarine wreck site and the surrounding ocean floor.
High-resolution cameras were utilized to obtain close-up video footage of the F-1 wreck, enabling specialists to build photogrammetric models that provide precise measurements of the submarine and the diverse marine life that has since colonized its remains.
This technology allowed the researchers to produce detailed three-dimensional models of the wreck, enhancing our understanding of its current state.
After completing the dives, the crew held a poignant remembrance ceremony aboard Atlantis, ringing a bell 19 times to honor each crew member who was lost at sea.
Underwater archaeologist Brad Krueger, a participant in the dives, emphasized the importance of remembering the individuals who lost their lives, stating, “History and archaeology are all about people, and we felt it was important to read their names aloud.”
The expedition not only advanced scientific inquiry but also served as a solemn tribute to the legacy of the sailors aboard the USS F-1.
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