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.
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