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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 54542:  USS Dolphin underway, circa 1932

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Dolphin (SS-169), 1932-1946

USS Dolphin, a 1560-ton submarine built by the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, was commissioned in June 1932. She was transferred to the Pacific later in that year and operated out of San Diego, California for most of the next five years. Dolphin's base was moved westward to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in December 1937. She was in port there on 7 December 1941, when the devastating Japanese surprise attack brought the United States into World War II.

Later in the month Dolphin began her first war patrol, a cruise in the Marshall Islands that was marked by constant mechanical difficulties, a common situation in submarines of her vintage. Despite these problems, she was able to gather important intelligence information before returning to Pearl Harbor in February 1942. Following repairs, in early June she performed picket duties during the battle of Midway and, during the next two months, patrolled the waters off Japan. Her third, and final, war patrol was made in the Kurile Islands beginning in October 1942.

The mechanically-troubled Dolphin was withdrawn from combat duty after her return from the stormy northern Pacific. She was thereafter used for training work, initially at Pearl Harbor and, from March 1944, at New London, Connecticut. Decommissioned in October 1945, some weeks after the end of the war, USS Dolphin was sold for scrapping in August 1946.

This page features all the views we have related to USS Dolphin (SS-169).


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 54542

USS Dolphin
(SS-169)

Underway, circa 1932.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 


The following images depict USS Dolphin (SS-169) partially, in the distance, or in groups with other ships.

Photo #: NH 65018

USS Holland
(AS-3)

At anchor during the 1930s, with USS Barracuda (SS-163) tied up to her port side. USS Dolphin (SS-169) is partially visible, tied to Holland's starboard side.

Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 113KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-63334

USS Holland (AS-3)


With seven submarines alongside, in San Diego harbor, California, 24 December 1934.
The submarines are (from left to right):
USS Cachalot (SS-170);
USS Dolphin (SS-169);
USS Barracuda (SS-163);
USS Bass (SS-164);
USS Bonita (SS-165);
USS Nautilus (SS-168); and
USS Narwhal (SS-167).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 123KB; 740 x 620 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 3036

Submarines alongside USS Holland (AS-3)
, circa 1936-1939

These "boats" are, from left to right:
USS Nautilus (SS-168);
USS Narwhal (SS-167);
USS Shark (SS-174), marked "P3";
USS Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1";
USS Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1";
USS Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and
USS Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4".

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 119KB; 740 x 500 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 3037

USS Holland (AS-3)


With seven submarines alongside, circa 1936-1939. These "boats" are, from left to right:
USS Nautilus (SS-168);
USS Narwhal (SS-167);
USS Shark (SS-174), marked "P3";
USS Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1";
USS Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1";
USS Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and
USS Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4".

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 510 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 3038

USS Holland (AS-3)


With seven submarines alongside, circa 1936-1939. These "boats" are, from left to right:
USS Nautilus (SS-168);
USS Narwhal (SS-167);
USS Shark (SS-174), marked "P3";
USS Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1";
USS Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1";
USS Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and
USS Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4".

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 485 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 3039

USS Holland (AS-3)


With seven submarines alongside, circa 1936-1939. These "boats" are, from left to right:
USS Nautilus (SS-168);
USS Narwhal (SS-167);
USS Shark (SS-174), marked "P3";
USS Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1";
USS Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1";
USS Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and
USS Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4".

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 520 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-451125

Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii


Aerial view of the Submarine Base, with part of the supply depot beyond and the fuel farm at right, looking north on 13 October 1941.
Note the fuel tank across the road from the submarine base, painted to resemble a building.
The building beside the submarine ascent tower (in left center, shaped like an upsidedown "U") housed the U.S. Fleet Headquarters at the time of the Japanese attack on 7 December 1941. Office of Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, the Fleet's Commander in Chief, was in the upper left corner of the building's top floor.
See Photo # 80-G-451125 (complete caption) for identification of some of the ships present.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 144KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 83109

Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941


Chart showing the positions of ships inside Pearl Harbor at the time of the Japanese Attack, at about 0800 on 7 December.
The orientation of the compass direction arrow in the chart's center is turned approximately 45 degrees too far in a counterclockwise direction. Some of the ships moored in "nests" in the northern part of the harbor are listed in incorrect order.

Collection of Vice Admiral Homer N. Wallin, USN(Retired), 1975.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 131KB; 915 x 1075 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 84002

Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii


View looking northward, with the Navy Yard industrial area in the foreground and the Marine Barracks in the lower right, 28 July 1942. Ford Island is at left, with USS Oklahoma and USS Arizona under salvage nearby. USS San Diego is in the upper center.
USS West Virginia is in Drydock Number One, in the lower left, and USS California is alongside the wharf at the extreme right. Cruisers alongside the pier in right center are Northampton (left) and Pensacola. Submarines alongside 1010 Dock, just beyond Drydock # 1, are Trout, Pollack, Dolphin and Cachalot.
Note camouflage on many of the Navy Yard's buildings.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of The Honorable James V. Forrestal.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 146KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold at least one other view of USS Dolphin (SS-169). The following list features this image:

The image listed below is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."



  • Photo #: 80-G-463268
    USS Dolphin (SS-169) underway on the surface, 23 August 1935.
    Port broadside aerial view. Dolphin is painted black, and is wearing the identification code "D-1".


    Reproductions of this image should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The image listed in this box is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


  • If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 28 November 2003