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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)

Garfish / H-3 (SS-30)

Radio Call Sign: November - Yankee - Echo
H-1 Class Submarine: Laid down, as Garfish, 3 April 1911, at Seattle Construction & Drydock Co., Seattle, WA.; Renamed H-3, 17 November 1911; Launched, 3 July 1913; Commissioned USS H-3, 16 January 1914, at Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA.; Ran aground off Samoa , CA., 16 December 1916; Decommissioned: 4 February 1917, at Humbolt Bay, CA.; Recommissioned, 20 April 1917, at Humbolt Bay, CA.; Decommissioned, 23 October 1922, at Hampton Roads, VA.; Laid up in the Reserve Fleet; Struck from the Naval Register, 18 December 1930; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 14 September 1931.

Specifications: Displacement, surfaced 358 t., submerged 467 t.; Length 150' 4"; Beam 15' 10"; Draft 12' 5"; Speed, surfaced 14 kts, submerged 10.5 kts; Depth Limit 200'; Complement 2 Officers 23 Enlisted; Armament, four 18" torpedo tubes (fwd), 8 torpedoes; Propulsion, diesel-electric, New London Ship & Engine Co., diesel engines, 950 hp, Fuel Capacity 11,800 gals., Electro Dynamic electric motors, 600 hp, Battery Cells 120, twin propellers.
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H- boats
0803020		 1.68k H-3 (SS-30) launch. In contrast to the spartan attire of the F-boats at launch, the launch committee here found means to gaily dress this ship expansively in large international signal code flags. Photo courtesy of Gary Mcintosh.
Text courtesy of Seattle Post Intelligencer. 4 July 1913, courtesy of Beneath the Surface: World War I Submarines Built in Seattle and Vancouver by Bill Lightfoot.
H-3651kPhoto of the H-3 (SS-30) Control Room. The boat's wheel is connected via a metal "belt" to a shaft that runs though the boat in the overhead to the rudder. The vertical sight gauges show the fluid level in the variable ballast tanks below the deck. Date is 27 March 1913. The sub was still on the ways waiting for her 3 April 1913 launch. US National Archives photo courtesy of Ric Hedman.
SS-133
0813316		 188k Lt. (j.g.) William Robert Munroe was the H-3's (SS-30) 1st CO on on 16 January 1914. He would reach the rank as Vice Admiral upon retirement. Text courtesy of wikipedia.org.
USN photo # 80-G-49323 via history.navy.mil
H-3101k"H-3 (SS-30) returning from Seattle to Bremerton, WA March 1914. Lt. Munroe is on the bridge. H-3 had been refueling in Seattle and returns to Puget Sound Navy Yard. She was only about ½ mile from the Bremerton shipyards in this photo." US Navy Bureau of Ships photo # 19-N-13-27, now in the collections of the US National Archives.
H-3577kThe H-3 (SS-30) photographed circa 1914, probably in the Puget Sound area when first completed. National Archives Identifier: 45513731
Local Identifier: 165-WW-338B-022
Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
H-346kThe H-3 (SS-30) underway in 1914.USN photo.
H-1, 2 & 3173kH-1 (SS-28), H-2 (SS-29) and H-3 (SS-30), berthed together at an unknown location in January 1914. They possibly could be nested alongside of the Cheyenne (BM-10), which was the tender for the three subs. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
F-4 49k Submarines alongside Cheyenne (BM-10): at San Pedro, California, circa 1914-1916. The submarines are (from left to right):
H-1 (SS-28);
H-2 (SS-29);
F-3 (SS-22),
& H-3 (SS-30). 		USN photo # NH 101606, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of H.R. ("Ed") Coffer, 1986.
H-2 NR AMERICAN SUBMARINES IN PRACTICE WORK
Above the crew of U. S. submarine H-2 (SS-29) hoisting aboard a spent practice torpedo during the maneuvers off San Pedro, Cal.
Below is submarine H-3 (SS-30) rising to the surface after a dive.		Image and text provided by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE.
Photo from The North Platte Semi-Weekly Tribune.(North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, 11 June 1915, Image 9, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
H-1, 2 & 381k Cheyenne (BM-10) with H-3 (SS-30), H-1 (SS-28) and H-2 (SS-29) alongside, probably at San Diego, California, circa 1914-1917. Note the submarines' 13-star "boat" flags, and the numbers "23", "21" and "22", on their periscope housings. The first digit of these numbers represents the Second Torpedo Flotilla, to which they were assigned. The second digit represents the individual submarine's name. Also note the Sailor seated on Cheyenne's port anchor. Text courtesy of USNHC photograph # NH 76004.
USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
H-3148kThe grounded submarine H-3 (SS-30) on the "rocks" off Pt. Sur, coast of California, 30 June 1915. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
H-387kThe H-3 (SS-30) in drydock at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, in July 1915. Her starboard bilge keel shows the effects of her recent grounding at Point Sur, California. USNHC photo # NH 69848, courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.
H-3116kThe H-3 (SS-30) in drydock at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, in July 1915. Her starboard bilge keel shows the effects of her recent grounding at Point Sur, California. Note the rotating torpedo muzzle cover at H-3's bow. USNHC photo # NH 69850, courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.
H-2 & 382k The monitor Cheyenne (BM-10) with two of her charges H-2 (SS-29), H-3 (SS-30) in 1916. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
H-3425kSUBMARINE ASHORE ON ROCKS OFF SAN DIEGO, CAL. Another in the series of catastrophies that have occurred to the little American fleet of submersibles overtook them during a storm on the California coast.
As mentioned above: Ran aground off Samoa , CA., 16 December 1916 and this photo is dated 10 February 1916. It may be possible that she ran aground here and then off Samoa later in the year (or not at all).
The lack of the canvas bridge could be explained by having the photos being taken at different times. The temporary canvas bridges could be erected/taken down fairly quickly. I would imagine that the bridge was up at the time of the grounding, and was taken down prior to the attempt at refloating. 		Photo i.d. courtesy of Ric Hedman & text by David Johnston
Image and text provided by Penn State University Libraries; University Park, PA.
Photo & text by Evening Public Ledger. (Philadelphia {Pa.]) 1914-1942, 10 February 1916, Night Extra, Image 20, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
H-3196kPhoto post card of the H-3 (SS-30), run aground at Samoa , CA., 16 December 1916. Photo courtesy of Russ Wilson via Tom Bateman, formerly of George Washington (SSBN-598) and Blenny (SS-324) fame.
H-394kVisitors inspecting the H-3 (SS-30) run aground at Samoa , CA., 16 December 1916. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
H-376kH-3 (SS-30) stranded on Samoa Beach, near Eureka, California, during attempts to salvage her, circa 7-12 January 1917. Milwaukee (C-21) is visible at the left.  USNHC photograph # NH 53830 courtesy of Robert Hurst.
H-3
0803030		 NR Disabled engines are believed to have caused the mishap off the California Coast which resulted in the grounding of the U.S. submarine H-3 (SS-30). Lieutenant H.R. Bogusch, her commander, and the crew of twenty six were saved in breeches buoys after fighting death for hours. The Navy department is planning to refloat her. Kadet & Herbert photo.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from New-York Tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 07 January 1917, The Tribune Graphic Section Two, Image 63, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
H-381kA photo by Underwood & Underwood showing the H-3 (SS-30) and the cruiser Milwaukee (C-21) run aground at Samoa, CA., 13 January 1917.USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
H-381k A crowd has gathered on Samoa Beach, California to view the grounded submarine H-3 (SS-30) in late January 1917. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
H-365kThe grounded submarine H-3 (SS-30) off Eureka, California. USN photo # 19-N-11469, from (NARA), courtesy of Daniel Dunham.
H-3110kA sailor poises for a picture during the recovery operation of the H-3 (SS-30), 6 April 1917 by Mercer-Fraser Co.USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
H-3735k H-3 (SS-30) being dragged across the sand spit to Humboldt Bay where it was relaunched. Note the typical EB design feature of bow cap on the torpedo tubes just above the man with the hat in the centre. The bow planes are extended and just above on the deck the forward hatch is open. Image scanned from "U.S. Submarines 1900-35" by Jim Christley.
Photo courtesy US Navy SFLM, and illustrated by Peter Bull. Published by Osprey Publishing Ltd, ISBN978 1 84908 185 6, courtesy of Robert Hurst.
H-399k The H-3 (SS-30) is shown being moved across the sand at Samoa Beach, CA on 6 April 1917 by Mercer-Fraser Co. The caption reads: Submarine H3, April 6/17, Moving 250 ft per hr. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
H-3138k This photo shows the salvage operation underway to recover the submarine H-3 (SS-30) at Samoa Beach, CA in April 1917. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
H-351k H-3 (SS-30) on the left, possibly with the H-9 (SS-152), on the right & Cheyenne (BM-10) in the background at Bremerton, WA., circa 1918-22. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
H-7 236k H and L class submarines berth in San Pedro.
From Back to front & L-R: H-6 (SS-149), L-5 (SS-44), H-7 (SS-150), H-3 (SS-30) in back berth. The H-4 (SS-147) is moored alongside the pier, ahead of her is a row with at least 2 submarines, the H-5 (SS-148) on the left & what might be either the L-6 (SS-45) or L-7 (SS-46) alongside.
The photo appeared in the LA Times on 20 February 1920. The LA Water & Power states that the San Pedro submarine base closed in 1923. 		Text i.d. courtesy of Ric Hednan .
Photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
H-3103kThe H-3 (SS-30) underway, circa 1922.USNHC photo # NH 53822.
Lake type89kSubmarines at a West Coast port, circa 1919-1922. The Lake type L-8 (SS-48) is at the outboard (left) end of the nest, with her sister, L-7 (SS-46), in the middle (3rd from left). H-3 (SS-30) is between them, with another Electric Boat Company submarine second from right. The inboard (right) "boat" and that in the foreground are the other two units of the Lake-designed L-5 class; L-5 (SS-44) and L-6 (SS-45). Note the "Y-tube" hydrophone mounted on the bow of the submarine in the foreground. USNHC photo # NH 103255. Collection of Chief Engineman Virgil Breland, USN. Donated by Mrs. E.H. Breland, 1979.
H-356kH-3 (SS-30), date and place unknown.USN photo from DANFS, submitted by Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory)
L-5
0804409		 NR WIRELESS SAYS SUBMARINES ARE ACCOUNTED FOR
A1l twelve of the submarines en route from Los Angeles to Hampton Roads, Va., under convoy of the tender Beaver (AS-5), were said at the local submarine base to be accounted for this morning. 		Image and text provided by University of Florida.
Photo & text by The Lakeland Evening Telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 29 July 1922, Image 1, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
graveyard shiftNRStarting a 5,000-mile journey, which will end at their own graveyard, twelve H and L type submarines left the Navy base at San Pedro, CA, recently, bound for Hampton Roads, VA. through the Panama Canal. Upon arrival on the East coast they are to be decommissioned and cut up for scrap iron.
Pictured in the front is the H-3 (SS-30).
Ten of the other eleven boats were:
H-2 (SS-29),
L-5 (SS-44),
L-6 (SS-45),
L-7 (SS-46),
H-4 (SS-147),
H-5 (SS-148),
H-6 (SS-149),
H-7 (SS-150),
H-8 (SS-151),
H-9 (SS-152).
Image and text provided by Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge, LA
Photo from The Weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 19 August 1922, Image 2, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
H-387kCommemorative photo remembering the H-3 (SS-30).Photo courtesy of Tom Kermen.
Dante's Prayer courtesy of Loreena McKennitt via loreenamckennitt.com
View the Garfish / H-3 (SS-30)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Not Applicable to this Vessel
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Stranding of USS H-3 and USS Milwaukee, and salvage of USS H-3, December 1916 - April 1917, USNHC
PigBoats.COM TM, a Historic Look at Submarines
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