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USS S-8 (SS-113)
Encyclopedia
USS S-8 (SS-113) was a second-group ( or "Government") S-class
submarine
of the United States Navy
. Her keel was laid down on 9 November 1918 by the Portsmouth Navy Yard. She was launched
on 21 April 1920 sponsored by Mrs. Roy W. Ryden, and commissioned
on 1 October 1920 with Lieutenant Commander
Eric F. Zemke in command.
S-8 sailed from Newport, Rhode Island
on 7 December 1920 and was attached to Submarine Division 12 (SubDiv 12). After her division had rendezvoused with SubDiv 18 off New Hampshire
, they proceeded via the Panama Canal
and California
to Hawaii
, arriving at Pearl Harbor
on 15 April 1921. Departing Pearl Harbor on 3 November, they arrived at Cavite
, Luzon
, in the Philippines
on 1 December. This voyage set a record for American submarines, at that time, as the longest cruise ever undertaken. Other submarines — which had operated on the Asiatic station prior to this — were transported overseas on the decks of collier
s.
The two divisions — which comprised Submarine Flotilla 3 (SubFlot 3) — operated out of Cavite for the next three years, with annual visits to ports in China
. They finally departed Cavite on 29 October 1924, and arrived at Mare Island, California on 30 December.
S-8 remained at Mare Island through 1925, operated along the West Coast during 1926, and sailed on 10 February 1927 for the Panama Canal Zone
. She operated at Coco Solo
from March into April, and then sailed for New London, Connecticut
, arriving on 3 May.
S-8 spent the next three years operating along the New England
coast, out of New London, with the exception of training cruises to the Panama Canal
area from February-April 1928, January-April 1929, and January-March 1930.
Departing New London on 22 October, S-8 sailed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, where she was decommissioned on 11 April 1931. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register
on 25 January 1937.
United States S class submarine
The United States' S-class submarines, often simply called S-boats , were the first class of submarines built to a United States Navy design....
submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Her keel was laid down on 9 November 1918 by the Portsmouth Navy Yard. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 21 April 1920 sponsored by Mrs. Roy W. Ryden, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 1 October 1920 with Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant commander (United States)
Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3...
Eric F. Zemke in command.
S-8 sailed from Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
on 7 December 1920 and was attached to Submarine Division 12 (SubDiv 12). After her division had rendezvoused with SubDiv 18 off New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, they proceeded via the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, arriving at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
on 15 April 1921. Departing Pearl Harbor on 3 November, they arrived at Cavite
Cavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
, Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
on 1 December. This voyage set a record for American submarines, at that time, as the longest cruise ever undertaken. Other submarines — which had operated on the Asiatic station prior to this — were transported overseas on the decks of collier
Collier (ship type)
Collier is a historical term used to describe a bulk cargo ship designed to carry coal, especially for naval use by coal-fired warships. In the late 18th century a number of wooden-hulled sailing colliers gained fame after being adapted for use in voyages of exploration in the South Pacific, for...
s.
The two divisions — which comprised Submarine Flotilla 3 (SubFlot 3) — operated out of Cavite for the next three years, with annual visits to ports in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. They finally departed Cavite on 29 October 1924, and arrived at Mare Island, California on 30 December.
S-8 remained at Mare Island through 1925, operated along the West Coast during 1926, and sailed on 10 February 1927 for the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
. She operated at Coco Solo
Coco Solo
Coco Solo was a United States Navy submarine base established in 1918 on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Panama Canal Zone, near Colón, Panama....
from March into April, and then sailed for New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, arriving on 3 May.
S-8 spent the next three years operating along the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
coast, out of New London, with the exception of training cruises to the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
area from February-April 1928, January-April 1929, and January-March 1930.
Departing New London on 22 October, S-8 sailed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, where she was decommissioned on 11 April 1931. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 25 January 1937.