S-27

S-27 and one sister boat underway near Lahaina, Maui in the spring of 1925. The Navy maintained a substantial fleet anchorage right off Lahaina, in the sheltered waters of the Auau Channel. Fleet units would frequently anchor here while taking a break from exercises. This saved time by not requiring the transit up the channel into Pearl Harbor on Oahu.

This photo shows S-27 in her as-built configuration. She would be modified in the late 1920's in the wake of the S-4 disaster. The aft superstructure skeg tapering down to the rudder would be removed, and escape trunks would be added to the motor room and torpedo room. In addition, the deck and ventilator on the aft end of the fairwater would be raised to keep that area drier in heavy seas.

Original photo print in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

S-27 in drydock, likely at the Mare Island Navy Yard in Vallejo, California, approximately 1925. This was a busy refit period, with a lot of work going on topside.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

A wider view of the photo above, showing that S-27 (right) was in drydock with at least four other S-boats. None of the other boats can be identified, but the two on the left in the foreground were 20 series boats built at the same Bethlehem Quincy yard as the S-27. It was not uncommon to see multiple submarines in drydock at the same time. The Navy was desirous of making the maximum efficiency of the drydocking process, and the large drydocks at Mare Island could accommodate several submarines.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

S-27 making her way in a rough sea. Location is unknown for sure, but is likely the Pacific Ocean off California. She is running in a long swell at full speed causing the water to wash over the decks. The S-boats and classes before them had vertical superstructure sides with no flare to direct the water away from the decks, making them "wet boats".

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman. NOT a U.S. Navy photo.

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