Lost Boats - December
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died...rather we should thank God that such men lived...
~ George S. Patton
The USS F-1 (ex-CARP) (SS 20) sunk on 17 DEC 1917 with the loss of nineteen officers and men after a collision with the USS F-3 (ex-PICKEREL) (SS-22)) off San Clemente, CA.
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.
Nineteen of her men were lost, while 3 others were rescued by the submarines with whom she was operating.
Sunk with the loss of 40 officers and men after a collision with the Coast Guard's USS PAULDING (CG 17), formerly a US Navy destroyer (ex-DD 22).
Salvaged in 1928 and recommissioned.
Severely damaged on 10 DEC 1941 while tied up in Cavite Navy Yard, Philippines, during a Japanese air attack with the loss of four men.
The destruction of the Navy Yard made repairs of the severe bomb damage impossible, and USS SEALION was ordered destroyed
To prevent her from falling into enemy hands, she was scuttled in-place at Cavite in Manila Bay.
All salvageable 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.
One other USS SEALION crewman was later captured and died in POW camp.
Missing, presumed sunk, on or after 01 DEC 1943 with the loss of 76 officers and men.
She was on her first war patrol in the Celebes Sea, but her exact location, date and cause of loss remain a mystery.
She may have been lost to mines or an operational casualty.