Stranded with no power, the crew of USS R-14 (SS-91) turned their submarine into a sailboat to get home

By today’s standards, a submarine from 1918 might appear quite basic, but even at that time, relying on sails for propulsion was considered outdated. Yet, the crew of the USS R-14 (SS-91) had to improvise, fashioning makeshift sails from bed sheets and blankets when their submarine lost power more than 100 miles off the coast of Hawaii.

The USS R-14 belonged to the R-class submarines, which served in the US Navy from 1918 through the end of World War II. The development of this class began shortly after the United States entered World War I in early 1917. A total of 27 submarines were built, though most were completed after the war ended, meaning none saw combat.

These submarines replaced the older O-class and were the first US submarines to be equipped with 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, a standard still widely used around the world today. They also carried a 76 mm deck gun, which could be used as both an anti-aircraft weapon and a general-purpose artillery piece.

Weighing 640 tons and measuring 186 feet in length, these submarines featured a diesel-electric propulsion system, a common technology for the era. Two 600 hp diesel engines powered two 467 hp electric motors, which relied on large battery banks when the submarine was submerged since the diesel engines needed air to operate. While surfaced, the R-class could achieve a top speed of 12.5 knots (14.4 mph) and 10.5 knots (12.1 mph) while submerged.

USS R-14

USS R-14 underway, probably during trials in late 1919 or early 1920. Note that her deck gun has not yet been installed. (Photo Credits: U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph NH 102849 / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Construction of the USS R-14 began in 1918, and she was commissioned by late 1919. While she did not participate in active combat during WWI, the submarine played a vital role in the Pacific Fleet during peacetime, aiding in the development and improvement of submarine and anti-submarine warfare tactics. She also participated in several search and rescue operations.

The USS R-14 continued serving throughout WWII, mainly as a training vessel, and underwent an overhaul in 1941. She was officially struck from the Naval Vessel Register in May 1945 and scrapped the following year in 1946.

The return to wind power

The jury-rigged sails used to bring R-14 back to port in 1921; the mainsail rigged from the radio mast is the topsail in the photograph, and the mizzen made of eight blankets also is visible. R-14’s acting commanding officer, Lieutenant Alexander Dean Douglas, USN, is at the top left. (US Naval History and Heritage Command / Photo # NH 52858 / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain).

In 1921, the USS R-14 was participating in a search and rescue mission for the USS Conestoga, a US Navy ocean-going tug. Conestoga had disappeared while on her way to the South Pacific Ocean, which prompted a major search for the vessel.

In May of 1921, while surfaced and searching for the Conestoga, R-14 ran out of fuel and lost radio communications. The crew was about 100 nautical miles away from Pearl Harbor when the vessel ran out of fuel, a distance too far for her to reach on battery power alone. On top of this, the USS R-14 only carried enough food to last the crew 5 days.

The submarine was dead in the water, without any power and no way of calling for help.

Fortunately, the submarine’s engineering officer Roy Trent Gallemore came up with an unusual but smart plan. Gallemore suggested going back to the basics, and sailing R-14 to Pearl Harbor under wind power.

To do this, the crew tied together several bunk bed frames and attached them to the torpedo-loading crane in front of the conning tower. They then tied a foresail made out of eight hammocks to the bed frame assembly.

With just this one sail, R-14 began to move at a speed of 1.2 mph and gained rudder control. Gallemore’s plan was clearly working, so the crew added another sail made from six blankets to the radio mast, which increased the submarine’s speed by a further 0.58 mph. A third sail comprised of eight blankets added another 0.58 mph to the R-14‘s speed.

The submarine was eventually able to start charging its batteries. R-14 and all of its crew arrived at Hawaii 64 hours later, after a long and slow journey.

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R-14‘s captain, Lieutenant Alexander Dean Douglas received a commendation for his crew’s clever problem solving from Chester W. Nimitz, his Submarine Division Commander.

The USS Conestoga would never be found in the search, or for another 95 years. The tug boat was discovered in 2009 just off the coast of California, and its identity was confirmed in 2015.