American Submarine, Lost for over a Century, Discovered 'Remarkably Intact' Off the Coast of San Diego

Deep-Sea Tech Unlocks First-Ever Images of WWI-Era Submarine Wreck

Photogrammetric reconstruction of the submarine USS F-1 on the seafloor west of San Diego, Calif. Image by Zoe Daheron, © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Researchers have released the first clear images of the USS F-1 wreck, a US Navy submarine lost in a tragic accident during the WWI era. The submarine sank on Dec. 17, 1917, following a collision during exercises, claiming the lives of 19 crew members. Its wreckage now rests over 1,300 fee…

Lost WWI submarine captured in never-before-seen images off the California coast

The USS F-1 was lost at sea in December of 1917 following a collision with another vessel

American submarine, lost for over a century, discovered 'remarkably intact' off the coast of San Diego

A submarine that sank over 100 years ago during WWI has been surveyed off the coast of San Diego.

Deep-Sea Sub Visits Two Navy Wrecks

MAY 23, 2025 – The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC), aboard the Office of Naval Research (ONR)-owned research vessel (R/V) Atlantis, visited and documented the final resting places of two U.S. Navy sunken military craft off San Diego with the human-occupied vehicle (HOV) Alvin in late February 2025. Alvin, carrying a science observer from both NHHC and ONR, was piloted by WHOI to explore t…

High-tech deep ocean mission unveils never-before-seen images of lost WWI submarine

In a remarkable blend of cutting-edge technology, historical curiosity, and deep-sea exploration, a recent expedition has uncovered the most detailed imagery ever captured of the USS F-1 submarine—more than a century after it sank off the coast of San Diego in 1917. Photogrammetric reconstruction of the submarine USS F-1 on the seafloor west of SanDiego, Calif. Credit: Zoe Daheron, ©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution The World War I-era vessel…