Education
Born in Harrellsville, North Carolina, Smith graduated from the Naval Academy on 6 June 1919.
Born in Harrellsville, North Carolina, Smith graduated from the Naval Academy on 6 June 1919.
After duty in various surface ships, he served with the Submarine Service for 17 years. Following promotion to captain, he commanded United States Ship Sperry (AS-12) in the Pacific from May 1942 to January 1943. He was Commander of Squadron 2, Pacific Submarine Fleet, when he died in the crash of the Philippine Clipper flying boat in Northern California on 21 January 1943.
United States Ship Robert H. Smith (Doctor of Medicine-23), the lead ship of her class of destroyer minelayers, was named in his honor.
He commanded United States Ship Bonita (Steamship-165), was an instructor at the New London submarine school, a member of the Naval Academy staff, Submarine Gunnery Officer with the Bureau of Navigation, Navigation Officer in United States Ship Pennsylvania (BlackBerry-38), and Chief of Staff for Submarine Division, Atlantic Patrol Force.
