USS R-7 (SS-84)

USS R-7 (SS-84) was an R-class coastal and harbor defense submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on 6 December 1917 by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on 5 April 1919 sponsored by Mrs. Ivan E. Bass, and commissioned on 12 June 1919 with Lieutenant Commander Eric F. Zemke in command.

Service history

1919–1931

Completed and fitted out at Boston, Massachusetts, during the summer and early fall of 1919, R-7 got underway for New London, Connecticut, and duty with SubDiv 9 on 21 October. Through November she conducted training exercises off the Connecticut coast. In December she headed south for Norfolk, Virginia, and winter exercises in the Gulf of Mexico. Into April 1920, she operated out of Pensacola, Florida, before returning to New England in May. Given hull classification symbol SS-84 in July 1920, she again headed south on 13 September this time for overhaul at the Norfolk Navy Yard until April 1921. Then, reassigned to the Pacific Fleet, she continued south and transited the Panama Canal.

Arriving at San Pedro, California, her new homeport, on 30 June, she engaged in individual, divisional, and fleet exercises off the coasts of California and Mexico for the next two years. On 11 July 1923 she departed California and 11 days later arrived at Pearl Harbor, her base for the next eight years. The submarine's operations included fleet problems and regular patrols which, with increased air...
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