Submarine R-12 Memorial Dedication

All Hands are invited to join the Ocean State Chapter of the Submarine Veterans of World War II and the U.S Submarine Veterans, Inc. Rhode Island Base at a dedication ceremony for a memorial to the submarine USS R-12 (SS 89), lost on 12 June, 1943.

The ceremony will be conducted at 1PM on Saturday, 6 October, rain or shine. A "Tolling the Boats” ceremony will also be conducted, remembering all 52 submarines lost during WW II. The ceremony will be conducted at the WW II Submarine Memorial, located at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Route 2 in Exeter, R.I.

Invited guests and speakers include The Honorable Governor Donald L. Carcieri and the Commanding Officer of the USS Providence (SSN 719).

Chaplain from Naval Base Newport Manuel Biadog and the Silver Dolphins Color Guard from Submarine Base Groton will be providing their services for the memorial dedication.

(Photo: National Archives)

USS R-12 (SS 89) June 12, 1943 - 42 Men Lost

On June 12, 1943 between 12:20 and 12:25pm the R-12 was underway to conduct a torpedo practice approach. As she completed preparations to dive and was riding on vents, the forward battery compartment began to flood. The collision alarm was sounded. The Commanding Officer from the bridge gave orders to blow main ballast and close the hatches. The R-12 sank in an estimated 15 seconds from the sounding of the collision alarm. The Commanding Officer, two ships officers and three enlisted men were on the bridge at the time and were the only survivors. Those lost include four U.S. Naval officers, and thirty-six U.S. Naval enlisted men, and two Brazilian observers.

It was the opinion of the Court of Inquiry that the cause of the loss of R-12 was unknown, but probably was caused by the rapid flooding of the forward part of the ship through a torpedo tube.

The R-12 rests in six hundred feet of water near the Key West, FL submarine operating area.

(Photo: National Archives)

Sailors Lost On USS R-12 (SS 89) 6-12-1943

Almeida, A. G. D. LT (Brazilian Navy)

Bacon, G. W. EM3

Bronson, R. B. F2

Buckley, J. J. SM1

Cashell, F. E. ENS

Clayton, H. L. CSMA

DeMoura, J. L. LT (Brazilian Navy)

Flisher, R. F. F1

Garbulsky, L. E. S2

Graziani, F. P., Jr. GM1

Hall, J. C., Jr. EM3

Harman, E. L., Jr. CRMA

Horton, J. U. LTJG

Horvath, J. S. TM1

Knapp, H. H. S2

Krigbaum, E. CMOMMA

Kymer, L. V. MOMM2

LeVan, C. B. S1

Lobeck, H. P. TM3

Mathis, C. V. TM3

McKibben, P. R. EM1

Moncada, J. MM1

Mullis, A. J. F2

Ness, G. W. S2

Noonan, P. L. S2

Rabbit, J. H. RM3

Rafferty, E. J. MM2

Schnake, L. E. F1

Scott, C. "R" F2

Secor, H. R. RM2

Shellenberger, H. H. F3

Smith, C. S. S2

Starks, R. N. LT

Sullivan, D. C. RM3

Thompson, R. A., Jr. S2

Unger, J. D. LTJG

Vincent, E. W. MOMM2

Walker, N. W. MOMM1

Walsh, E. F. MOMM2

Wheeler, K. J. SC3

Young, W. D. STM2

Zimmerman, G. A. F3

Of the 52 Submarines lost in WWII the R-12 (SS 89) is designated as the lost boat for the State of Rhode Island.