The S-Boats Page 4

The S-Boats
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USS S-40 SS 145 coming along side a tender to moor.
Note radio mast from another S boats in foreground.

USS S-40 SS 145 underway.

USS S-40 on Asiatic Station with two other S boats.
The submarine isn't diving.
Rough seas has caused the bow to plunge into the swells.
The exhaust from the diesel engines can be seen
on the hull just forward of the "40" on the hull.

USS S-40 in the foreground with an unidentified S boat.
Seas are pretty rough, note bow of submarine has lifted from the water.

USS S-40 in what appears to be getting underway from another S-boat moored to a tender.
Location is unknow but most likely Asiatic Station, Tsingtao, China, circa mid 1930's.

Bridge crew standing on the bridge combing watching the unmooring process.
Location is unknow but most likely Asiatic Station, Tsingtao, China, circa mid 1930's.

Captain and another officer standing on the bridge combing watching the unmooring process.
Bridge helmsman can be seen standing to the left of the legs of the officer on the left.
Location is unknow but most likely Asiatic Station, Tsingtao, China, circa mid 1930's.

Enlisted man and another officer standing on the bridge combing watching the unmooring process.
Location is unknow but most likely Asiatic Station, Tsingtao, China, circa mid 1930's.

Line handlers and foredeck officer on the bow of the S-40.
Location is unknow but most likely Asiatic Station, Tsingtao, China, circa mid 1930's.

Top of the radio mast showing detail of the mast and the commissioning pennent of the S-40.
Masthead lights and anchor lights can be seen under the yardarm.
Location is unknow but most likely Asiatic Station, Tsingtao, China, circa mid 1930's.

Top of an S-Boat radio mast showing detail of the mast and flag halyards arttached to the underside of the yardarm.
Masthead lights and anchor lights can be seen under the yardarm.
Location is unknow but most likely Asiatic Station, Tsingtao, China, circa mid 1930's.

USS S-41 SS 146

USS S-42 SS 153

Story relayed to Ron Martini from a crewman "I served on the S42 in 1944 to June 1945 when we took her to Kaiser shipyard to decommission her.
The reason was when we were at sea out of San Diego practicing with the Air Force we dove and as usual we were to level off at periscope depth but we continued to go down.
I was a seaman first operating the bow planes and we could not control the dive. We reached 75 feet then 100 before the OD called the Capt. to the control room. We were pretty close to 150 ft when the Capt. ordered to blow all tanks and so we surfaced.
When we surfaced mo mac Gibbs, (MM or Motor Machistmate), port watch, volunteered to dive under the boat to ascertain the problem. When he surfaced he told us the stern planes had fallen off. We put into San Diego and were ordered up to Tiburon Bay and later to Kaiser shipyard where we decommissioned her. From there I was transferred to the Dragonet (USS Dragonet SS 293) at Hunters Point, there I made Electrical Torpedoman 3 class. Discharged in May 1946."

USS S-42 SS 153 departing Pearl Harbor.

USS S-42 had a shower head installed in the port side aft of the conning tower.
This photo was taken in 1926 off shore of Pearl Harbor.
This Photo is NOT in the Public Domain and is from the Private Collection of Ric Hedman

Close-up of the shower installed on the S-42 in the port side aft of the conning tower.
This photo was taken in 1926 off shore of Pearl Harbor.
This Photo is NOT in the Public Domain and is from the Private Collection of Ric Hedman

USS S-42 shower in use. Water can be seen coming out of the showerhead.
Looks like some crew opted to shower "in the buff".
This photo was taken in 1926 off shore of Pearl Harbor.
This Photo is NOT in the Public Domain and is from the Private Collection of Ric Hedman

USS S-42 shower in use. Crew member drying off after his shower.
Some crew opted to shower "in the buff" it seems.
This photo was taken in 1926 off shore of Pearl Harbor.
This Photo is NOT in the Public Domain and is from the Private Collection of Ric Hedman

USS S-42 crew Dutch harbor, AK January 1944.
This is a photo of the change of command in Dutch Harbor Alaska.
The change was Lt. Cmd. H. K. Nauman ( far right front row) to Lt Charles Leigh (to Nauman's right). Nauman went on to a fleet boat.
John Allen, who supplied this photo is in the center, rear in the photo.

Identified Crew Are In The Center Of Each Close-up.

John Allen

Miller, QM3

"Shorty" Howe

The Ship's Cook

Lt Charles Leigh & Lt. Cmd. H. K. Nauman Dutch Harbor, AK 1943

(Left) Lt Charles Leigh (new CO)
&
(Right) Lt. Cmd. H. K. Nauman (old CO)

USS S-42 SS 153
Interior shot of the helm and the high pressure air manifold to the left.
Photo courtesy of crew member John Allen

USS S-42 SS 153 Bow from the Bridge.
Taken from the bridge looking forward to the bow, Milne Bay.
Photo courtesy of crew member John Allen

USS S-42 SS 153 photographed from the deck of a neighboring sub.
Dutch Harbor, Alaska 1943. Notice the sea and air search radars installed on these older boats.
Photo courtesy of crew member John Allen

USS S-43 SS 154 during a WW II refit at Mare Island Shipyard
January 25, 1944. Items circled in white show changes to design
made during the refit.

USS S-43 SS 154

USS S-43 under going sea trials in San Francisco Bay during a WW II overhaul
Official U.S. Navy Photograph

USS S-44 SS 155
Official U.S. Navy Photograph

San Diego Harbor in the 20's or 30's
Official U.S. Navy Photograph

Retrieving Torpedos in the 20's or 30's.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph

Underway off the California coast in the 20's or 30's
Official U.S. Navy Photograph

Repairs in the Canal Zone 1926. This may be one of the 2 main electric motors.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph

Ships Company in the 1920's or 30's
Official U.S. Navy Photograph

Panama Canal Zone in Feburary 6, 1943
Official U.S. Navy Photograph

USS S-44 SS 155 off the Philadelphia Navy Yard June 11, 1943

USS S-44 SS 155 sporting her new radar, Feb 6, 1943 at
Coco Solo, Panama, the canal Zone

Philadelphia Navy Yard June 11, 1943
Official U.S. Navy Photograph

Official U.S. Navy Photograph

Captain Ralph W. Christie, USN, (left)
Commander Task Force 42 and Submarine Squadron Five Congratulates Lieutenant Commander John R. Moore, USN, Commanding Officer of USS S-44 (SS-155), " as he returned to this South Pacific base after a very successful week of patrol activity". (quoted from original World War II photo caption)
The original caption date is 1 September 1942, which is
presumably a release date. S-44 returned to Brisbane,
Australia, on 23 August 1942 at the end of a war patrol in
the Solomon Islands, during which she sank the Japanese
heavy cruiser Kako. The photograph was probably taken at about that time.

Gun Crews at drill January 1943. Note "kill" flags painted on the conning tower fairwater
Official U.S. Navy Photograph

The USS S-45 dockside.
Location unknown. circa1920's

S-45 dock side, Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
White circled areas show new equipment. October, 17, 1943
Official U.S. Navy Photograph

S-45 dock side, Mare Island Naval Shipyard
White circled areas show new equipment. October, 17, 1943
Official U.S. Navy Photograph

S-45 Mare Island Naval Shipyard Seatrials

S-45 Seatrials, Mare Island Naval Shipyard
October, 1943
Official U.S. Navy Photograph

USS S-46 SS 157, Territory of Hawaii

USS S-47 SS 158 September 1943, San Francisco Bay

USS S-47 SS 158

USS S-47 SS 158 September 1943 Mare Island Shipyard

USS S-47 SS 158 October 1943, Mare Island Shipyard

USS S-48 SS 159 Pre launch photo, Feb 26, 1921
Lake Torpedo Boat Company Yards, Bridgeport, Conn.

USS S-48 SS 159 Pre launch photo, Feb 26, 1921
Lake Torpedo Boat Company Yards, Bridgeport, Conn.
The back of the is photo has the Naval Photographic Center caption:
(I have not changed the spellings)

26 Feb, 1921
S-48 Launched with real champagne by Indian Princess
An Indian Pricess as sponsor, a quart of real champagne for the christening and the assemblage of a distinguished company of foreign and American Naval experts were the outstanding features of the launching of the S-48, regarded as the "last word" in submarine construction. The S-48 contains many improvements over the orginal S type, she is double hulled and so constructed as to withstand the water pressure of 200 feet submergence. And is especially designed for protection against depth chargeshock. The radio apparatus is designed to work either under or above the water. Her battery will consist of five 21 inch torpedo tubes. Four foreward and one aft and one 4 inch gun. She is 24 feet long,(240 feet long), and has a displacement of 1,000 tons. The photo is a general scene before the launching.
Launched at Bridgeport, Conn.

USS S-48 SS 159 launch photo, Feb 26, 1921

USS S-48 SS 159 launching, Feb 26, 1921
Lake Torpedo Boat Company Yards, Bridgeport, Conn.

USS S-48 SS 159 post launching, Feb 26, 1921
Notice the ice in the water.

USS S-48 Launch day Feb 26, 1921

Builder's trials were conducted on S-48 on the 7th of December 1921. During a dive off Penfield Reef, a manhole plate in one of the aft ballast tanks was left unsecured, and S-48 sank in 60 feet of water. The crew, contractor's personnel, and naval observers brought the bow to the surface and escaped through a torpedo tube to a tug which took them to New York. On 20 December, the submarine was raised and taken back to the builder's yard where repairs were begun. The work was completed ten months later; and, on 14 October 1922, USS S-48 (SS-159) was accepted by the Navy.
(Information from SUBNET S-48 listing by Jim Christley, Don Merigan)

USS S-48 salvage almost complete

USS S-48 about the time of her commissioning, October 14, 1922.

The S-48 dockside possibly Portsmouth Harbor. 1922
Photo from the private collection of Ric Hedman

The S-48 dockside possibly Portsmouth Harbor. 1922
The men have been doing laundry. It can be seen hanging on lines to the right in the background.
Photo from the private collection of Ric Hedman

USS S-48 wrecked on the beach January 1925, the S-48 was salvaged a week
later and returned to service after repairs had been made. The USS S-48 was in and out of
commission up to WW II when she served as a training and target vessel.

The conning tower of the S-48 taken while she was under going salvage, January 30, 1925.
US Navy Photo

Salvage successful. Early February 1925.
US Navy Photo

The S-48 under tow to the shipyard after salvage
US Navy Photo

S-48 under tow by the tug Pennacook passing the Naval Prison
US Navy Photo

February 8, 1925
Damage to the starboard bow plane and guards and to hull. Caption says this is looking fwd from frame 38.
The Starbord bowplane has been broken off and the plane guard is badly bent.
Circles are water spots on the negative.

US Navy Photo

February 8, 1925
Damage to sternplanes and propellers due to grounding. The starboard sternplane and propeller have been broken off.
There are several other submarines in the dry dock but they are unidentified at this time.
US Navy Photo

The S-48 dockside possibly Portsmouth Harbor. Year unknown, circa late 1920's
Photo Copyright Ric Hedman

Crew on an icey deck. They look to have just docked. The people aft of
the conning tower seem to be bringing the brow over from the dock.
Photo Copyright Ric Hedman

The crew seems to have gotten the brow on board. Another brow is laying on the dock at the left in the photo.

Photo Copyright Ric Hedman

Two crew members sranding on the foredeck of the S-48.
Possibly these men are the CO and XO of the S-48.
The clearing wire and radio antena are coverd in thick ice.

Photo Copyright Ric Hedman

Crew posing for camera. The deck gun is covered in thick ice.

Photo Copyright Ric Hedman

Loading a MK10 torpedo into the foreward torpedo room.
Note the raised gunnels that gave the S-48 her graceful shape.
Another torpedo is resting on the deck to the left in the photo.
Photo Copyright Ric Hedman

Captain and XO sitting on ice encrusted conning tower fairwater.
The ammunition hoist for the deck gun is to the right in the photo on the deck.
Photo Copyright Ric Hedman

Braving the weather to pose for the camera
Photo Copyright Ric Hedmanbr>

The captain and XO,Lt. William N. Meyer, along with the chief petty officers of the S-48.
Circa late 1920's. Location unknown.
Photo Copyright Ric Hedman

The captain of the S-48. I haven't found out his name yet.
If you know please send me an email.
Circa late 1920's
Photo Copyright Ric Hedman

The XO of the S-48.
Lt. William N. Meyer. He was also the Diving officer
Circa late 1920's
Photo Copyright Ric Hedman

USS S-48 SS 159 March 1931
Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone
US Navy Photo

USS S-48 July 1933
US Navy Photo

USS S-48 SS 159 March 1941
I had to rotate the photo to maintain the detail.
US Navy Photo

The S-boats covered such wide type of design and were built
around pre-WW I and post WW I design findings.

USS S-49 on sea trial shortly after launching.

USS S-49 June 1922

USS S-49 January 1926. The white in the picture is a large tear in the photo.

USS S-49 from the air, 1927

USS S-49 running at speed

S-49 as a attraction, 1936. The "C" on the bow is to
identify the submarine as a "Civilian" vessel.
She was reputed to have been painted yellow as well.

USS S-49 SS 160

S-49 Control Room. Stern and bow plans controls are the large wheels.

S-49 enginroom

S-49 torpedo room. The S-49 carried 12 torpedoes

USS S-50 on launch day, June 18, 1921
at the Lake Torpedo Boat Company, Bridgeport, Conn.

USS S-50, 1923

USS S-50, 1924

USS S-50, 1924
(circles seen at deck line are photographic defects)

USS S-50 SS 161 S-3 is in the background

USS S-50, S-3 1925

USS S-50, 1925

A posed picture on the deck of the USS S-50 SS 161 while
tied up at the New York Navy Yard in the mid 1920's.
The S-50 was decommissioned Aug 20, 1927.

USS S-51 0n launch day, Aug. 20, 1921.
Lake Torpedo Boat Company.
The flag says "LAKE" for the builder.

USS S-51 at sea, 1924.

USS S-51 SS 162

S-51 bow breaks water during salvage of sunk submarine.

Dry dock is being pumped down. The hole in the hull can just
be seen foreward of the deck gun, port side

USS S-51 in dry dock after being salvaged.
The hole in the hull is on the opposite side of the hull just forward of the deck gun.

S-51 stern in dry dock

S-51 bow showing damage.
The caption say: "Bow View Showing Damage to stern
Caused by Grounding On Man Of War Rocks"
Since this is the bow of the boat and the part that was damaged
is known in nautical terminology as the 'STEM' I can only assume
the caption writer misread the handwriting and not being
familiar with the term wrote what he/she thought it said.
Many thanks to Tara Guthrie for allowing me to use this photo from her
S-51 memorial page to her Grandfather who died in the S-51 sinking.
Tara's page HERE

S-51 hole in port side

Tender with S boats and Fleet boats 1940

USS Canopus with S-boats and early Fleet boats

Eight S-boats moored to tender

S-boat foreward torpedo room

Unknown S-boat control room.
Gyro is in the center of the room.

A peek through the door. Thought I could see something but no luck

Unknown S-boat control room

Unknown S-boat engineroom looking aft. Motor room is through the door.

Unknown S-boat motorroom looking forward. Engineroom is through the door.

Unknown S-boat fresh water still.
Engine order telegraph is in the overhead

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Go to: Rich Tucker's S-Boat Page to learn more about "S" boats.

The S-boats covered such wide type of design and were built
around pre-WW I and post WW I design findings that is difficult
to set any hard and fast specifications down for the boats.

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Ric Hedman 1999 - 2006©
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