USS R-20 (SS-97)

USS R-20 (SS-97) was an R-class coastal and harbor defense submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on 4 June 1917 by the Union Iron Works in San Francisco, California. She was launched on 21 January 1918 sponsored by Mrs. Arnold Foster, and commissioned on 26 October 1918 with Lieutenant Commander Alfred E. Montgomery in command.

Service history

1918–1931

Fitted out at San Pedro, California, R-20 remained off southern California operating between San Pedro and San Diego, California, until March 1919. She then moved to San Francisco, California; underwent overhaul, and on 17 June got underway for Hawaii. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 25 June.

Given hull classification symbol SS-97 in July 1920, she served with the fleet training submarine personnel and assisting in the development of submarine equipment and tactics for over a decade. On 12 December 1930, she departed Pearl Harbor and headed for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and inactivation. She arrived at Philadelphia on 9 February 1931; decommissioned on 15 May; and was berthed at League Island.