USS R-22

The USS R-22 (SS-99) was an R-class submarine of the United States Navy. She was commissioned in 1919 and served primarily in training and development roles throughout her career.

Design and Construction: The R-class submarines were designed as improved versions of the earlier L-class submarines. They were intended to be faster and more maneuverable. R-22 was built by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts, and launched on May 15, 1919.

Service History: Following commissioning, USS R-22 operated along the East Coast of the United States. Her duties mainly consisted of training crews in submarine warfare and participating in fleet exercises. Due to budget cuts and the obsolescence of the R-class design, R-22 was decommissioned on May 13, 1932.

Fate: USS R-22 was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on November 7, 1940, and subsequently scrapped.

Specifications (Typical R-class):

• Displacement: Approximately 569 tons surfaced, 680 tons submerged
• Length: 186 feet 3 inches (56.8 m)
• Beam: 16 feet 8 inches (5.1 m)
• Draft: 13 feet 11 inches (4.2 m)
• Speed: 14 knots (26 km/h) surfaced, 11 knots (20 km/h) submerged
• Armament: 4 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes (bow), 1 × 3-inch (76 mm) deck gun (typically removed later in service)
• Crew: Approximately 2 officers and 25 enlisted men