Return to Naval Historical
Center home page.
Return to Online
Library listing
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
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).
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 |
 |
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
Page made 25 February 2006