USS ''F-3'' (SS-22), was a F-class

submarine A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability.) The term "submarine" is also sometimes used historically or infor ...

. She was named ''Pickerel'' when her

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was laid down by The Moran Company of

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, making her the first ship of the

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to be named for the pickerel, a type of pike. She was renamed ''F-3'' on 17 November 1911, launched on 6 January 1912 sponsored by Mrs. M. F. Backus, and commissioned on 5 August 1912.

Service history

''F-3'' completed her trials in the

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area before reporting for duty at

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, on 15 October 1912, when she joined the First Submarine Group, Pacific Torpedo Flotilla. The Flotilla operated along the coast of California, conducting constant exercises and experiments to develop the techniques of submarine warfare, and from August 1914 to November 1915, carried out similar operations in the

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out of

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. ''F-3'' was placed

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in Vallejo, California, on 15 March 1916, returning to full commission on 13 June 1917. After training her new crew, ''F-3'' was assigned to the Coast Torpedo Force, Pacific Fleet, based at

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. She engaged in daily operations, surfaced and submerged, training students of the submarine school. During maneuvers on 17 December 1917, she and collided, the latter sinking almost immediately. ''F-3'', along with other submarines with whom she was operating, rescued only three men out of the 22 on board the ''F-1''. ''F-3'' suffered a cracked bow cap and after repairs at Mare Island Navy Yard was assigned operations in cooperation with a civilian motion picture company in experiments with

underwater photography Underwater photography is the practice of capturing images beneath the surface of the water, often done while scuba diving, but can also be done while diving on surface supply, snorkeling, swimming, from a submersible or remotely operated und ...

. From 1919 to 1921, ''F-3'' served at San Pedro, California, as

training ship A training ship is a ship used to train students as sailors. The term is mostly used to describe ships employed by navies to train future officers. Essentially there are two types: those used for training at sea and old hulks used to house class ...

, and on 15 March 1922 she was decommissioned. She was sold on 17 August 1922.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:F-3 (SS-22) Ships built in Seattle 1912 ships F-3 World War I submarines of the United States United States submarine accidents Maritime incidents in 1917