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

Photo # NH 44554:  USS O-8 in a harbor, circa 1919

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

USS O-8 (Submarine # 69, later SS-69), 1918-1946

USS O-8, a 521-ton O-1 class submarine, was built at Quincy, Massachusetts. She was placed in commission in mid-July 1918 and served along the East Coast until early November. She then left for the Azores, but soon returned to the U.S. when First World War combat operations were ended by the 11 November 1918 Armistice. During the next twelve years O-8 (which was designated SS-69 in July 1920) was mainly employed as a training submarine, based at Groton, Connecticut. In addition, she deployed to Panama during the mid-1920s. O-8 decommissioned in May 1931 and was laid up at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

Recalled to active service by the demands of the defense buildup that followed the outbreak of World War II in 1939, O-8 was recommissioned in April 1941. She spent the next four years in her old Submarine School job at Groton. Decommissioned in September 1945, USS O-8 was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register a month later and sold for scrapping in September 1946.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS O-8 (Submarine # 69, later SS-69).


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 44554

USS O-8
(Submarine # 69)

In a harbor, circa 1919.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 565 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 69038

USS O-8
(SS-69)

Underway and about to submerge.
"It was from O-8 that a radio program was broadcast from under water. Two NBC announcers, one located in the main control room of the submarine, and another situated in the torpedo room, described their sensations as the sub made its descent to the bottom of the sea." (quoted from the original mid-1920s vintage caption).

Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, San Francisco, California.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 101KB; 600 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 61819

USS O-8
(SS-69)

Underway with her crew at quarters on deck, circa the early 1920s.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 565 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 61818

USS O-8
(Submarine # 69)

With the "Victory Fleet" off New York City in 1919.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 48KB; 740 x 460 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 44553

USS O-8
(Submarine # 69)

Crew members standing in and by the submarine's fairwater, while she was with the "Victory Fleet" off New York City in 1919.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 570 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 101000

USS O-8
(SS-69)

Chief Gunner's Mate David J. Lohr (right) and Chief Machinist's Mate Hadley pose by the breech of O-8's retractable 3"/23 gun, circa 1920.
Lohr's original caption reads: "Ever see a real tough looking hombre? If I look like this I'd better start wearing a mask."

Copied from the collection of David J. Lohr, by courtesy of Radioman 1st Class Pamela J. Boyer, USN, 1986.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 450 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 101001

USS O-8
(SS-69)

Chief Gunner's Mate David J. Lohr (right) and a friend posing on deck, by the submarine's retractable 3"/23 gun, circa 1920.
Lohr's original caption reads: "I like this one best. The pose is so natural. The other lad is 'Jimmie O-8' also from Chicago."

Copied from the collection of David J. Lohr, by courtesy of Radioman 1st Class Pamela J. Boyer, USN, 1986.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 445 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 101002

Submarine Base, New London
,
at Groton, Connecticut

Seen from on board an approaching submarine, probably USS O-8 (SS-69), in October 1920.
Note the submarine's open forward hatch cover.

Copied from the collection of David J. Lohr, by courtesy of Radioman 1st Class Pamela J. Boyer, USN, 1986.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 465 pixels

 


The following photographs show groups of submarines, with USS O-8 among them (or probably among them):

Photo #: NH 98630

USS Savannah (ID # 3015)


With "O"-type submarines alongside, circa 1919.
USS O-6 (Submarine # 67) is outboard at Savannah's bow, and USS O-8 (Submarine # 69) is outboard at her stern.

Courtesy of Jim Kazalis, 1981.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 440 pixels

 
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

 


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


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Page made 25 February 2006