The following American submarines and sustained the loss of at least one man prior to World War II. In addition, one submarine (USS S-5) on this list did not suffer the loss of any man, but is included because of the loss of the vessel itself. Vessels listed in bold type were lost. Although decommissioned at the time of her loss, USS G-2 (SS-27) is included because of the loss of life.
Known losses incurred by submarine tenders USS Beaver (AS-5), USS Fulton, USS Holland, and USS Rainbow are also included.
Please view the "Additional Losses - Pre-WWII" page for listings of men were lost while serving on vessels that were not sunk.
| Name & Hull Number of Submarine | Total Number of Men Lost | |
| 1 | A-2 (SS-3) (ex-Adder) | 1 |
| 2 | 2 (in separate events) | |
| 3 | 8 | |
| 4 | Argonaut (SM-1) (SS-166) | 2 (in separate events) |
| 5 | B-1 (ex-Viper) | 1 (unverified) |
| 6 | Beaver (AS-5) (Sub Tender) | 1 |
| 7 | Bonita (SS-165) | 1 |
| 8 | 2 (in separate events) | |
| 9 | C-5 (SS-16) (ex-Snapper) | 1 |
| 10 | Canopus (AS-9) (Sub Tender) | 1 (ship later lost in World War II) |
| 11 | Castine (PG-6), serving as a sub tender | 1 |
| 12 | Chewink (ASR-3) | 1 |
| 13 | D-2 (SS-18) (ex-Grayling) | 2 |
| 14 | Dolphin (SS-169) | 1 |
| 15 | 1 (unverified) | |
| 16 | 5 | |
| 17 | 21 (two men lost in non-sinking event) | |
| 18 |
21 |
|
| 19 | Fulton (AS-1) (Sub Tender) | 2 (in separate events) |
| 20 | 3 | |
| 21 |
4 |
|
| 22 | Holland (AS-3) (Sub Tender) | 3 (all in separate events) |
| 23 | L-3 (SS-42) | 1 |
| 24 | 1 (unverified) | |
| 25 | 1 | |
| 26 | N-1 (SS-53) | 1 |
| 27 | Nautilus (SS-168) | 3 (all in separate events)** |
| 28 | O-1 (SS-62) | 1 |
| 29 | 5 (two men lost in a non-sinking event) | |
| 30 | 35 (two men lost in separate non-sinking events) | |
| 31 | 1 | |
| 32 | O-14 (SS-75) | 1 |
| 33 | 1 | |
| 34 | Perch (SS-176) (boat later lost) | 1 (six men later lost as POWs during World War II) |
| 35 | Pigeon (ASR-6) | 1 |
| 36 | R-3 (SS-80) | 1 |
| 37 | R-5 (SS-82) | 1 |
| 38 | R-6 (SS-83) | 2 |
| 39 | R-12 (SS-89) (boat later lost) | 1 |
| 40 | 1 | |
| 41 | R-18 (SS-95) | 1 |
| 42 | R-19 (SS-95) | 1 |
| 43 |
1 |
|
| 44 | Rainbow (AS-7) (Sub Tender) | 2 |
| 45 | S-2 (SS-106) | 1 |
| 46 | 41 (one men lost in a non-sinking event) | |
| 47 | S-5 (SS-110) | 0 (no men lost) |
| 48 |
2 (in separate events) |
|
| 49 | 1 | |
| 50 | S-12 (SS-117) | 1 |
| 51 | 2 (in separate events) | |
| 52 | 1 | |
| 53 | S-17 (SS-122) | 2 (in separate events) |
| 54 | S-18 (SS-123) | 1 |
| 55 | S-22 (SS-127) | 1 |
| 56 | 1 | |
| 57 | S-30 (SS-135) | 1 (formerly) |
| 58 | 1 | |
| 59 | 2 (in separate events) | |
| 60 | S-36 (SS-141) | 1 (boat later lost in World War II) |
| 61 |
3 |
|
| 62 | 1 | |
| 63 | S-41 (SS-146) | 1 |
| 64 | S-45 (SS-156) | 1 |
| 65 | S-46 (SS-157) | 1 |
| 66 | S-47 (SS-158) | 1 |
| 67 | 5 (one man lost in a separate event) | |
| 68 | 33 | |
| 69 | Salmon (SS-182) | 2 |
| 70 | 1 (six men later lost during WWII, including two who died as Prisoners of War) | |
| 71 | Squalus (SS-192) (later Sailfish) | 26 (vessel sank, but was later raised and returned to service); one additional man later lost in a separate event) |
| 72 | 1 | |
| 73 | V-2 (SF-5) later Bass (SS-164) | 1 |
|
1 |
*American submariner who was lost aboard the British Submarine HMS H5.
**One Nautilus man may have been serving on the submarine tender Holland (AS-3) at the time of his loss.
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