Stunning Photos of WWI Submarine USS F-1 Honor 19 Lost Sailors Off San Diego

In a poignant tribute just before Memorial Day, researchers have unveiled striking images of the USS F-1, a World War I-era U.S. Navy submarine resting 1,300 feet below the Pacific off San Diego. The vessel sank in December 1917 after colliding with its sister ship, claiming the lives of 19 sailors during a routine training mission. This discovery, captured through advanced ocean technology, honors their sacrifice while shedding light on a century-old maritime tragedy.

The expedition, a collaboration between the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and the Office of Naval Research, used the submersible Alvin and the autonomous vehicle Sentry from February 24 to March 4. These tools delivered unprecedented close-up views of the wreck, revealing its weathered hull in haunting detail. Brad Krueger, an NHHC underwater archaeologist, described the mission as both thrilling and humbling, emphasizing the importance of preserving the memory of the fallen sailors.

The team also surveyed a Navy torpedo bomber that crashed in the same area in 1950, highlighting the layered history of the site. Seven dives, part of a training and engineering mission, allowed researchers to map the submarine using multibeam sonar and photogrammetry, creating detailed 3D models. Bruce Strickrott, a WHOI pilot and Navy veteran, called the experience a profound privilege, noting the solemnity of diving alongside fellow veterans to document this piece of naval history.

Above the wreck, aboard the research vessel Atlantis, the team held a remembrance ceremony, ringing a bell 19 times—one for each lost sailor—and reading their names aloud. This gesture underscored the Navy’s commitment to honoring its heroes. The mission’s success, driven by cutting-edge technology and careful teamwork, ensures that the USS F-1’s story endures, a testament to both human courage and the relentless pursuit of historical truth.