Date of Loss 12 June, 1943
Returned to Service No
Foundered off of Key West, Florida. Forward torpedo room flooded during preparations for a training dive involving a torpedo practice approach. The collision alarm was suddenly sounded and a report was made that the forward battery compartment was flooding. The R-12 began to sink immediately. Despite the efforts of her crew to prevent disaster, within approximately 15 seconds of the initial alarm the bridge was completely submerged. Because disaster struck so quickly, the only survivors were the bridge crew. The cause of the accident was never determined. R-12 was never raised.
Forty two men lost, five survivors.
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