USS R-14

• Oct 5, 2025

• #1

Wurger

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USS R-14 submarine ran out of fuel 100 miles from Hawaii in 1921. Crew made sails from blankets and hammocks, rigged them to the periscope, and sailed the submarine home using only wind power over 5 days.





not the R-14 submarine ...

the pic source: the net.

 

• Oct 6, 2025

• #2

T

ThomasP

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Interesting.

But I do not think the bottom photo is the R14 - the fairwater is distinctly different from that of the sub in the upper 5x photos.

Also, I do not know if this held true in 1921, but by the 1930s (if not earlier) most subs stowed actual sails for rigging in case of loss of engine power.

 

• Oct 6, 2025

• #3

cammerjeff

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Nice catch also the picture above it seems to be R-14 with square sails, not the triangular sails in the last picture. Great picture non the less! So apparently at least 2 subs had auxiliary sails!

 

• Oct 6, 2025

• Thread starter
• #4

Wurger

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IMHO the last bottom picture is the AI fake image. But I'm curious if there is somebody who can shed some light on that.

 

• Oct 9, 2025

• #5

Gnomey

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Good stuff!