In the spring of 1933, Dolphin got underway from her building yard, the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, ME for a series of builder's trials in the Atlantic off Portsmouth and in Cape Cod Bay. The boat was not yet complete, and the bulk of the operations were handled by yard personnel since the boat had not yet been commissioned into the Navy.
Dolphin performing diving tests off Provincetown, MA during her initial builder's sea trials circa April or May, 1932. She had not yet been commissioned and is being operated mostly by a yard crew from Portsmouth. She is not yet complete, and it is interesting to see the unpainted condition of the submarine and the lack of decking over the raised section aft of the fairwater. Note the spray from the open vent on the top of a ballast tank. #2 periscope is raised, and the U-shaped bracket on the right side of the bridge is for a searchlight that is taken below before diving. Also note the abbreviated aft fairwater deck, later to be lengthened. Even the "D1" are sheet metal letters riveted on and not painted. D1 is not the boat's name. It is a simple visual identifier that enabled the boat to be identified at long range when the name could not be seen. The use of the class identifiers later became confusing so they were dropped in favor of hull numbers in the fall of 1938.
US Navy Photo Contributed by Roger Torgeson
Dolphin, almost fully submerged, performing diving tests off Provincetown, MA during sea trials circa June, 1932. This photo taken a few minutes after the one seen above.
US Navy Photo Contributed by Roger Torgeson
Dolphin running a slightly later set of trials off Provincetown, MA, probably late May, 1932. She is not yet in commission as evidenced by the lack of the national ensign flying from the bridge flagstaff. By this date she had received her full hazegray paint job in anticipation of being accepted and commissioned by the Navy. Her radio mast is fully raised and the fore/aft aerial wires can just be seen draping down from the top of the mast.
US Navy Photo Contributed by Roger Torgeson
This photo, taken shortly after the one above, is taken from the starboard side. At this point she is just doing photo ops for the camera, but she would have also done surface and submerged speed runs demonstrating depth and endurance. Crew are on deck taking advantage of a bit of fresh air.
U.S. Navy photo
Dolphin making a test dive off Provincetown, MA, spring 1932. She has a slight down angle, which is normal, and #2 periscope is fully raised.
