The Kaxaan Nautical Foundation (kaxaan.org), in collaboration with the U.S. Government and the Mexican Navy (Semar), installed a memorial plaque on the site of the sunken submarine H-1 Seawolf on 6 November 2023 to establish a Living Museum of the Sea and commemorate the loss of lives that occurred while serving their country at the conclusion of the First World War in 1920.
After serving coastal duty during World War I, USS H-1 Seawolf was on its return voyage to San Pedro, California. It had left Submarine Base in New London, CT in January 1920 with its sister ship H-2 and picked up its escort vessel, patrol craft Eagle-11 in Norfolk, VA. The task force passed through the Panama Canal and were heading up the Pacific Coast when H-1 began to have mechanical problems. On the night of 12 March 1920 the submarines were traveling on the surface seeking the shelter of Bahia Magdalena in Baja California Sur, Mexico, to carry out repairs when H-1 ran aground. LT Commander James Webb swiftly advised H-2 not to follow and gave the order to abandon ship. Four seamen, including LCMD Webb perished that evening.
The U.S. Navy sent ships to aid H-1 and were able to wrest the submarine free of the sandbar, but, after days of being beaten by the sea, the vessel’s watertight integrity was compromised and scarcely an hour after being towed off the beach H-1 sank and was abandoned in 60 feet of water.
It was not until 2015 when local fishermen from Puerto Alcatraz on Isla Margarita stumbled on the submarine after snagging a lobster trap on the wreck. The submarine has breathed new life over the past 100 years as an artificial reef providing shelter and food for many species of aquatic life. In 2017, Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) analyzed and registered the wreck site for its preservation and protection, giving notice to the U.S. Navy Heritage Command. The following year, INAH created a detailed 3D photogrammetry model of the submarine that is being used to monitor the wreck’s natural degradation, which can be seen at: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/uss-h1-sea-wolf-submarine-d174120fb0a546d2b055d33ac716ab1f.
The Kaxaan Nautical Foundation, whose mission is to inspire nautical conservancy and sustainability through exploration, discovery and community engagement, collaborated with INAH and Indiana University and prepared a bronze plaque that was placed underwater at the wreck site along with a permanent buoy to establish a Living Museum of the Sea on 6 November 2023. The plaque makes reference to USS H-1 being “on eternal patrol” and commemorates those who gave their lives while serving their country. It identifies Kaxaan Nautical Foundation, Indiana University, PADI Worldwide, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Sunken Military Craft as sponsors and notes that the submarine is protected by INAH by virtue of the UNESCO convention of 2001. The plaque asks visitors to “only take photos and only leave bubbles.”
There was a ceremony at the Mexican Naval Base at Puerto Cortés on Isla Margarita on 6 November, where Captain Vázquez Borrego, on behalf of Admiral Lira and the Mexican Navy (Semar), Captain Ricardo Flores, American Legation US Naval Attaché, and Peter Tattersfield, Director of Kaxaan, spoke of the events of March 1920 and celebrated the collaboration between Semar, INAH, the U.S. Government, and the Kaxaan Nautical Foundation. Tattersfield stated that the U.S. Navy has a tradition to say that when submariners die on duty the submarine is said to be “on eternal patrol.” He wished to extend the same symbolism and enter “eternal friendship” with the U.S. and Mexican navies. Captain Vázquez thanked the Kaxaan Foundation for its attention and strengthening the island’s bonds to its history. And naval attaché Captain Flores thanked the naval base for all its efforts, contributions, and leadership that made the events possible.
On 7 November, at the site of the wreck, a second ceremony took place with the laying of a wreath at sea and a moment of silence to commemorate the lives lost of the H-1 seamen.
Photo credits: Juan Castro Gessner, Emma Lozano, Salvador Rabell Topete, Luis Sánchez, Emilio Velez Quintero