S-6

S-6 (left) with the surrendered German submarine U-111 in center of the photo, at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, approximately the summer of 1920. The photo is indistinct, but it appears that the U.S. sub on the far left of the photo is the S-3, one of the two subs the U-111 toured the east coast with on a bond drive to raise money for offsetting war debts. Retractable radio masts can be seen on the starboard side of the U-111.

Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.

Three crewmembers (including one Chief Petty Officer) of S-6 engaged in loading a Mk 10 torpedo into the boat. The location looks like Pearl Harbor and is likely during Submarine Division 12's stop in Hawaii during the homeport shift to the Asiatic Fleet, December 1920.

The 2,200 lb (1,005 kg) weapon has been placed on the inclined loading skid. The man on the left is operating the hand-cranked loading derrick and the weapon is secured to the derrick with a belly-band noose. The Chief and the other sailor are verifying the line up. When satisfied they will gently slide the weapon down the skid and through the loading hatch to the waiting torpedomen below. It will slide onto an inclined skid inside the room, then lowered to horizontal and moved into one of the storage positions in the room or loaded into a tube.

Original photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

S-6 seen here moored to an unidentified tender at an unknown location circa mid 1920's. Four crew are on deck three forward and one aft. Two large sacks which may be anything from produce to garbage sit at the front of the conning tower fair water. S-6 was involved in a collision while submerged with a destroyer in the mid 1920's, receiving substantial damage to her bridge and periscope shears. Thankfully no lives were lost. See a photograph collection of this incident at this link.

Original photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman

An idyllic scene of life on the S-6. In the background is what is most likely the headlands of southern California, making this photo circa 1925/1926. The crew is relaxed on deck, one man is even in his swimming suit. The captain or officer of the deck is sitting on the bridge combing, and many of the crew soak up the sun in this photo taken by one of the crew standing at the bow of the submarine. The submarine is probably returning to port after a time spent doing training at sea, possibly several days to a week.

In the foreground are the three "rats" of the Y-tube sonar array. The 4"/50 caliber deck gun is trained slightly to port, likely to facilitate maintenance.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

Crew members of the S-6 getting haircuts on the aft deck of another submarine while the subs are in dry dock, mid 1920's. The S-6 can be seen to the left. Another submarine is on the right.

Photo courtesy of Jim Townsend, son of Charles J. Townsend, S-6 crew member.

S-6 crewman Charles J. Townsend seen after his naval service and in his Coast Guard uniform circa 1927. He joined the Coast Guard to stay closer to home after his Asia service in submarines.

Photo courtesy of Jim Townsend, son of Charles J. Townsend, S-6 crew member.

S-6 gun crew going through a drill, mid 1920's. The men are unidentified but an African American crewman can be seen seated in the far gun seat. There were numbers of African American sailors in many positions in the Navy before President Wilson segregated the services, unfairly relegating them to serving positions only. Those in a rate were allowed to stay.

Photo courtesy of Jim Townsend, son of Charles J. Townsend, S-6 crew member.

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