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  • Boats-Ships--Submarine
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  • World War I 1917-1918
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K-2 (Submarine No. 33)

1914–1923

 

(Submarine No. 33: displacement 392 (surface), 521 (submerged); length 153'7"; beam 16'8"; draft 13'1"; speed 14 knots (surface), 10.5 knots (submerged); complement 28; armament 4 18-inch torpedo tubes; class K)

Initially named Cachalot (Submarine No. 33, she was renamed K-2 on 17 November 1911 and laid down on 20 February 1912 at Quincy, Mass., by the Fore River Shipbuilding Co. as a subcontract for the Electric Boat Co, launched on 4 October 1913; sponsored by Mrs. Ruth Chamberlain McEntee; and commissioned at the Boston (Mass.) Navy Yard on 31 January 1914, Ens. Radford Moses in command.

K-2 was initially assigned to the 3rd Division, Submarine Flotilla, Torpedo Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet, as of 2 February 1914. The submarine got underway and cleared the Boston Navy Yard on 5 June 1914 and reached the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y. the following day, whereupon she drydocked for overhaul. With her work completed, she cleared the yard on 4 July and proceeded north to Newport, R.I. (4–28 July). Getting underway on 28 July, she shuttled to Buzzard’s Bay, Mass. (28–29 July) before returning to Newport (29 July–1 August), She the visited Provincetown, Mass. (2–7 August) before returning to Newport (7 August-22 September). Departing on 22 September, she proceeded to Groton, Conn. where she remained until the 26th. Returning to Newport that same day, she remained until 5 October, when she got underway for Napeague Bay, N.Y. and making her return to Newport on 10 October. While she was en route back into Newport on 9 October, K-2 detached from the 3rd Division, Submarine Flotilla, Torpedo Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet, and was assigned to the newly-organized 4th Division. Clearing Newport on 15 October, the submarine arrived later that day at the Submarine Base, New London, Conn. She remained there until 3 December, when she returned to Newport (3–5 December) before making her way back to New London on the 8th. After a cruise (8–10 December), she cleared New London on the 10th and arrived at the New York Navy Yard on 12 December. The boat drydocked at the yard and remained there into January 1915.

K-2 cleared the New York Navy Yard on 19 January 1915 and set a course for Key West, Fla., via Charleston, S.C. (23–26 January). Raising Key West on the 29th, she remained until 5 February when she departed for training at Pensacola, Fla. En route, she visited Tampa, Fla. (6–7 February), before continuing her transit, reaching Pensacola on 9 February. The submarine would operate in the waters off Pensacola conducting training to 25 April, when she departed. Touching at Key West (27 April–1 May), she continued on to the North River anchorage in the Hudson River off New York City. Remaining for 12 days, she got underway on 18 May for Newport. En route she conducted maneuvers and raised her destination on 25 May. Operating from Newport during the following weeks, she departed that location on 20 June bound for the New York Navy Yard. Arriving the next day, she entered the yard and docked for a maintenance availability into the fall.


Submarines K-6 (Submarine No. 37), K-2, K-5 (Submarine No. 36), and K-1 (Submarine No. 32) at the 135th Street Pier, New York, N.Y., May 1915. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 2014.55.01)
Caption: Submarines K-6 (Submarine No. 37), K-2, K-5 (Submarine No. 36), and K-1 (Submarine No. 32) at the 135th Street Pier, New York, N.Y., May 1915. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 2014.55.01)

With her work completed, K-2 cleared the New York Navy Yard on 2 October, bound for Newport. Arriving that same day, she remained in port overnight and then got underway the next morning for maneuvers until 10 October, when she made her return to Newport. After three weeks, the boat stood out from Newport on 31 October and proceeded to the New York Navy Yard. Entering the yard on 1 November, she remained there through the end of the year.

K-2 was again underway on 29 January 1916. Bound for Key West via Charleston (31 January–1 February), she reached on 4 February. Remaining just two days, she cleared to again to conduct training at Pensacola, as she had the preceding year. As before, she stopped for a visit at Tampa (7–14 February) en route. She arrived at Pensacola on 26 February and remained there conducting training for two months.


K-2 off Pensacola, Fla., on 12 April 1916, painted in an experimental camouflage scheme. (U.S. Navy Photograph 80-G-451709, National Archives and Records Administration, Still Pictures Division, College Park, Md.)
Caption: K-2 off Pensacola, Fla., on 12 April 1916, painted in an experimental camouflage scheme. (U.S. Navy Photograph 80-G-451709, National Archives and Records Administration, Still Pictures Division, College Park, Md.)

With orders to proceed to the New York Navy Yard, K-2 cleared on 26 April 1916, and after touching at Key West (28–30 April) and Hampton Roads, Va. (4-13 May), stood in to the New York Navy Yard on 14 May to undergo maintenance. While at the yard on 15 May, the steamer Aragon collided with K-2 prompting a board of investigation and a trial by the Steamboat Inspection Service for the steamer’s second mate on a charge of negligence.

K-2 completed her yard work and cleared the New York Navy Yard on 3 August 1916 and arrived that same day at New London. Shifting to Newport, she operated from that station through the following weeks conducting maneuvers and other tactical training. At the completion of those exercises, she proceeded to the Philadelphia (Pa.) Navy Yard via Cape May, N.J. and arrived on 1 September. After oiling, she departed on 3 September for the New Jersey coast where she operated from Cold Spring Inlet (3-12 September) before returning to the Philadelphia Navy Yard on the 12th. After four days, she departed on 16 September bound for New London. Arriving on 18 September, she remained there until 30 October, when she proceeded down the Thames River into the Long Island Sound bound for another docking at the New York Navy Yard. Upon her arrival later that same day, she entered the yard and remained there into 1917.

K-2 cleared the New York Navy Yard on 26 January 1917 with orders to head to southern waters. Before she did so, however, she made a short visit to New London (27 January) then returned to New York (27–31 January). Finally clearing New York, she proceeded to Beaufort, N.C. (2–3 February); Cape Fear (N.C.) Light (4 February); and Charleston (6–14 February) before arriving at Key West on 17 February. Remaining overnight, the boat was again underway the next day. Bound for a return to Pensacola, she raised her destination on 20 February.

As K-2 conducted her annual training in the Gulf of Mexico off Pensacola, relations between the U.S. and Imperial Germany became strained pursuant to the latter’s resumption of its unrestricted submarine warfare campaign on 1 February 1917. As a result, Atlantic Fleet assets were being consolidated along the east coast in the anticipation of the outbreak of war. K-2 departed Pensacola on 27 March and proceeded via Key West (30-31 March) to Hampton Roads, Va., reaching on 5 April. The next day, the U.S. declared war on Germany. After oiling, she cleared Norfolk and proceeded north to the Ambrose Channel (11 April), from whence, she entered the New York Navy Yard (11–24 April) before moving on to New London, Conn. (Base No. 22) to train her crew (24 April–8 May). Clearing New London on 8 May, she returned to the New York Navy Yard that same day, in advance of departing on 9 May for the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Entering the yard on 11 May, she spent the following months undergoing modifications for war service.

While K-2 underwent overhaul, Vice Adm. William S. Sims, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in European Waters, in June 1917, cited British success in using submarines as submarine hunter-killers in antisubmarine warfare (ASW). The Allied submarines, with their lower profiles, could approach U-boats more stealthily than larger surface patrol vessels. On 2 July, Adm. William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, ordered the twelve most suitable submarines on the Atlantic coast be prepared for duty in European waters. K-2 was selected for this duty and was fitted out for distant service. K-2 completed her pre-deployment refit and cleared the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 7 October 1917. Proceeding to New London, she rendezvoused with the other K-boats set for overseas deployment on 8 October.

K-2 departed New London, proceeding down the Thames River, on 12 October 1917, in company with Bushnell (Submarine Tender No. 2), K-1 (Submarine No. 32), K-5 (Submarine No. 36), and K-6 (Submarine No. 37). Passing through the Cape Cod Canal and the vessels rendezvoused with the protected cruiser Chicago (flagship Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet) at Provincetown, Mass. The force stopped at Halifax, Nova Scotia (15–16 October) en route to the Azores, where it arrived at Ponta Delgada (Base No. 13) on the 27th. K-2 received orders to operate from Ponta Delgada and conduct patrol cruises off the Azores in conjunction with her sister K-boats and the yet to arrive E-1 (Submarine No. 24). These boats were designated the 4th Division, Submarine Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet, while the L-boats based in Ireland were designated the 5th Division. K-2 was the first U.S. submarine to go out on patrol during the war. For the duration of her deployment, she conducted a routine of patrol cruises in Azorean waters to protect shipping and to deny the use of the Portuguese archipelago as a base for U-boats or as a haven for German surface raiders interspersed with periods of refit, repairs, and replenishment. During her assignment at Ponta Delgada, the submarine was dispatched on 10 July to visit Lisbon, Portugal (15 July–11 August), where she drydocked, before making her return to (Base No. 13) on 16 August.


K-2, at right, with other U.S. ships in port, circa 1917-1918. The ship at left appears to be Artemis (S. P. 593), renamed Arcturus in February 1918). That in the center is a tug. They appear to be testing fire hoses. The location is unknown, but...
Caption: K-2, at right, with other U.S. ships in port, circa 1917-1918. The ship at left appears to be Artemis (S. P. 593), renamed Arcturus in February 1918). That in the center is a tug. They appear to be testing fire hoses. The location is unknown, but may be the Azores. The original image is printed on post card (AZO) stock. (Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008, Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph NH 106267)


K-2 in dry dock at Lisbon, Portugal, 1918. (Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph NH 55005)
Caption: K-2 in dry dock at Lisbon, Portugal, 1918. (Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph NH 55005)


United States legation visiting K-2 at Lisbon, Portugal, during the summer of 1918. View looks forward from the fairwater, with diving planes deployed at the submarine’s bow. (Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph NH 55006)
Caption: United States legation visiting K-2 at Lisbon, Portugal, during the summer of 1918. View looks forward from the fairwater, with diving planes deployed at the submarine’s bow. (Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph NH 55006)

K-2 then resumed her routine patrolling duties until 20 October 1918 when she departed Ponta Delgada for the U.S. Transiting via Bermuda (29 October–3 November), the submarine arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 10 November. The following day the Armistice was signed and hostilities ceased. K-2 and her sister submarines, after their post-deployment refit and overhaul, could resume their peacetime operations.

With the completion of her overhaul, K-2 cleared the Philadelphia Navy Yard and with orders to return to and be based from New London, she resumed coastal operations. On 26 August 1919, K-1, K-2, K-6, and Eagle Boat No. 25 received orders to proceed to Key West and report to Commander, Seventh Naval District, in order to assume station duties based from there. They departed on 8 September with instructions to proceed via Hampton Roads; Wilmington, N.C.; Charleston; Savannah, Ga.; Brunswick, Ga.; and Jacksonville, Fla. These orders were amended and she made a visit to the Philadelphia Navy Yard en route. Having operated from Key West, K-2 received orders on 26 April 1920 dispatching her to Section Base, Cape May and from there to the Philadelphia Navy Yard with the other K-boats for the installation of new main motors. All proceeded north from Key West on 20 May. While en route, she received amended orders and all proceeded directly to Philadelphia. Upon their arrival, all were re-assigned to the Repair and Reserve Submarine Division and were to be placed in reserve until repairs were completed and sufficient crewmembers made available. The submarines arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 7 July. Ten days later, on 17 July, K-2 was designated SS-33 as part of a Navy-wide administrative re-organization. The boat entered dry dock on 12 October.


K-Class submarines, circa 1920s. Present are K-7, K-1, K-5, K-3 in the foreground with K-2, K-8 & K-4 beyond. Note semaphore flags. (Naval History and Heritage Command S-551-B.01)
Caption: K-Class submarines, circa 1920s. Present are K-7, K-1, K-5, K-3 in the foreground with K-2, K-8 & K-4 beyond. Note semaphore flags. (Naval History and Heritage Command S-551-B.01)

On 15 January 1921, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) directed K-2 to report to the Submarine Base, Hampton Roads. That order was amended to enable additional work to be completed. OPNAV, on 4 February, issued orders detaching the K-boats from Submarine Division 3 and assigning them to Submarine Division 5 at Hampton Roads. The submarine’s assignment changed again on 9 May when she was assigned as part of the Division 5 contingent to the Special Submarine Squadron with units from Division 8 and Division 15. The squadron consolidated at Provincetown (15 June–2 July). K-2 conducted tactical attack training exercises with Division 5 and its tender Bushnell (5–16 July) in advance of conducting joint maneuvers off Provincetown (18–23 July). After these maneuvers, she returned to her operating base at Gloucester, Mass., to conduct overhaul (25–30 July).

The division then conducted rehearsals and battle practice (1–6 August 1921) before rehearsing for and conducting Ready Torpedo Practice (8–13 August). She then conducted rehearsals and Battle Practice Z (15–20 August) before returning to her operating base for overhaul (22–27 August). The squadron then operated with a destroyer division conducting joint maneuvers (29 August–3 September) and then engaged in experimental torpedo practice with the divisions acting in concert while the destroyers conducted depth charge practice (5–10 September) before conducting engineering runs while en route to Hampton Roads (12–17 September). The squadron then engaged in target practices in the Chesapeake Bay (19 September–1 October). After the completion of the exercises, K-2 reported to the Philadelphia Navy Yard for urgent repairs. K-2 detached from the Special Submarine Squadron on 2 December and was re-assigned to Division 5. The boat then arrived at Submarine Base, Hampton Roads, on 6 December where she remained through the end of the year.

In March 1922, K-2 reported to New London to rejoin Division 5 and operate from that base. With the end of her operational life approaching, she arrived at Hampton Roads on 15 November 1922 and on 29 January 1923 entered dry dock in preparation for decommissioning.

K-2 was decommissioned on 9 March 1923, and was towed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard in September 1924. Stricken from the Navy list on 18 December 1930, she was later sold for scrap on 3 June 1931.

Commanding Officers Dates of Command
Ens. Radford Moses 31 January 1914–26 January 1916
Lt. (j.g.) Edgar M. Williams 26 January 1916–29 March 1918
Lt. Ingram C. Sowell 29 March 1918–16 September 1918
Lt. George B. Junkin 16 September 1918–27 February 1919
Ens. (T) Cecil G. Simpson 27 February 1919–7 April 1919
Lt. Wallis Gearing 7 April 1919–23 June 1920
Lt. Richard W. Gruelick 23 June 1920–5 December 1921
Lt. (j.g.) John B. Griggs 5 December 1921–4 January 1923
Lt. James D. Jacobs 4 January 1923–9 March 1923


Christopher B. Havern Sr.; Commanding Officers Table Researched and Compiled by Kathryn Sullivan

21 September 2018

Published: Mon Sep 24 11:38:54 EDT 2018