S-17 is seen here on the right, sharing a drydock at the Mare Island Navy Yard with the Clemson-class destroyer USS Zeilin (DD-313). On the far left is the S-14 (SS-119). The date is January 13, 1928. S-17 is having some work done on her bow, and one plate has been removed from her superstructure forward. Of note in this photo is the tubular fairing on her hull below the bow planes and aft of the torpedo tubes. This is a housing for the MV passive sonar, which provided a tremendous upgrade in listening capability over the old Fessenden Oscillator. For a view of this same scene but from a different angle, please see the S-14 page at the link above.
USN photo courtesy of Historylink101.com.
A barely visible S-17 under tow from Guam to Pearl Harbor by an unknown ship. It must have been a nasty ride plunging in the ships wake like that. Maybe the crew had been taken off for the tow or a minimum crew left aboard in case the tow line parted.
In the summer of 1924, the S-17 visited Shanghai, Tsingtao, Chefoo, and Chinwangtao, before returning via Chefoo and Amoy to Olongapo, Luzon, on September 23, 1924. Departing Cavite on October 29, 1924, she arrived at the Mare Island Navy Yard, CA., on December 31. Whether she was under tow the whole way or just from Guam to Honolulu is unknown at this time.
