S-20
![](/images/thumb/e/e6/S-20_locks.jpg/500px-S-20_locks.jpg)
A lock gate can be seen on the left and behind the submarine is another and the lock behind is higher than the shown lock which means the submarine is descending to sea level. She may be in a center lock or the last lock. It is unclear which direction she is proceeding.
The time frame is most likely prior to her March 1924 to February 1925 conversion, when she became an engineering test platform, testing a variety of engine configurations. Her standard S-class bow was replaced with a radical new bow to test the sea keeping and submerged abilities of the new design. This type bow was to be used in the next class of submarines, the V-class and in a modified version was used in the later WWII boats and became known as a "fleet bow".
Photo from an original post card in the private collection of Ric Hedman
![](/images/thumb/9/9e/S-20_tarp.jpg/500px-S-20_tarp.jpg)
U.S. Navy photo
![](/images/thumb/a/a6/S-20_port_gray.jpg/500px-S-20_port_gray.jpg)
USN photo # NH 94167 via NHHC.
![](/images/thumb/4/44/S-20_anchored_1938.jpg/500px-S-20_anchored_1938.jpg)
Note that the submarine is anchored. The anchor chain can be seen running out the anchor housing fairing. There are crew in both whites and dungarees on deck. A guess would be that liberty has been granted and the men are waiting for a launch to take them to the shore. Those not in whites are probably the duty section. This is just a theory since the real story is not known nor does it explain why there are so many officers on the bridge. Maybe the crew is returning from liberty and the sub is about to get underway.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman
![](/images/thumb/c/c2/S-20_port_black.jpg/500px-S-20_port_black.jpg)
U.S. Navy photo
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