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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # 80-G-43874:  USS O-2 diving during training operations, 26 November 1943

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

USS O-2 (Submarine # 63, later SS-63), 1918-1945

USS O-2, a 521-ton O-1 class submarine built by the Puget Sound Navy Yard, was commissioned in October 1918. After transfer to the Atlantic, she spent nearly a dozen years operating along the East Coast and in the vicinity of the Panama Canal Zone. O-2 was placed out of commission in June 1931 and laid up at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The National defense expansion of the early 1940s brought her back to active duty. Recommissioned in February 1941, she was assigned to training duty at New London, Connecticut, during most of World War II. In July 1945, with the war with Germany won, USS O-2 was decommissioned. She was sold in November of that year.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS O-2 (Submarine # 63, later SS-63).


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 102783

USS O-2
(Submarine # 63)

In drydock at the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, circa 1919.

Collection of Christopher H.W. Lloyd. Donated by Virginia Agostini, 1990.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 515 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-43874

USS O-2
(SS-63)

Diving, during training operations out of New London, Connecticut, 26 November 1943.

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

Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 44545

USS O-2
(Submarine # 63) and
USS O-15 (Submarine # 76)

Alongside USS Rainbow (1898-1928, later AS-7), circa 1919.
An 18-inch torpedo is being lowered down O-15's forward hatch.
Note the retracted 3"/23 gun just forward of O-2's fairwater, and the "SC-Tube" hydrophone on O-15's foredeck.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 455 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 102780

USS Jason
(AC-12)

At Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, circa 1924.
Several submarines are in the foreground, including (from left to right):
USS S-19 (SS-124);
USS O-9 (SS-70);
USS R-26 (SS-103) -- probably--; and
USS O-2 (SS-63).

Courtesy of Chief Boatswain's Mate George Behrens, USN (Retired), 1974.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 445 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 100770

USS Orion
(AC-11) or USS Jason (AC-12)

At a Caribbean area base, probably the Coco Solo Submarine Base, Panama Canal Zone, circa the mid-1920s.
USS O-2 (SS-63) is at right.

Courtesy of Paul H. Silverstone, 1986.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 63KB; 740 x 425 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 63183

USS O-2
(Submarine # 63)

Sliding down the ways during her launching, at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, 24 May 1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 44544

USS O-2
(Submarine # 63)

Starboard diesel engine, prior to installation in the submarine, circa 1917-1918.
This is presumably a 6 cylinder, 440 BHP, New London Ship and Engine Company (NELSECO) 6-EB-14 type engine.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 545 pixels

 


USS O-2 is possibly the second "boat" from the left in the more distant group of submarines seen in the following photograph:

Photo #: NH 103193

Submarine Division 8
,
Commander Guy E. Davis commanding

Nine of the Division's ten "O" type submarines at the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, 16 August 1921.
Panoramic photograph by Crosby, "Naval Photographer", 11 Portland Street, Boston.
Submarines in the front row are (from left to right): O-3 (SS-64), O-6 (SS-67), O-9 (SS-70) and O-1 (SS-62).
Those in the second row are (from left to right): O-7 (SS-68), unidentified (either O-2 or O-8), O-5 (SS-66), O-10 (SS-71) and O-4 (SS-65).
Large four-stacked ship in the left center distance is the U.S. Army Transport Mount Vernon.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 168KB; 1200 x 670 pixels

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS O-2 (SS-63). The following list features some of these images:

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



  • Photo #: 80-G-14372
    O-2 (SS-63) underway while serving with the Submarine Training School, New London, Connecticut, circa 1942-1943.
    Low aerial view, taken from almost directly astern.

  • Photo #: 80-G-14373
    O-2 (SS-63) coming to the surface while serving with the Submarine Training School, New London, Connecticut, circa 1942-1943.
    Starboard quarter low aerial view.

  • Photo #: 80-G-457872
    O-2 (SS-63) diving during training operations out of New London, Connecticut, 26 November 1943.
    Starboard quarter low aerial view, probably taken a few seconds before Photo # 80-G-43874 (seen above), with somewhat less "down angle" on the submarine.


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

    The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them 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."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 12 March 2005
    New image added 29 October 2005