O-8

O-8 and two other O-class boats moored together at a snowy Submarine Base New London, CT., approximately 1920.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman

O-8 headed southbound down the Thames River, approaching the U.S. Route 1 bridge. Date is not known for sure, but it is approximately 1920.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman

O-8 seen here in the early to mid 1920's. The photo could be taken during the summer months as signified by the wearing of white uniforms or perhaps taken at Panama while she was stationed there from 1924 to 1928.

The activity on deck seems to be centered around the forward hatch where crew look to be entering the submarine or be lowering or lifting something through the hatch. There is an officer at the left edge of the grouping. A second group of sailors are gathered around the 3"/23 caliber gun and appear to be doing cleaning or maintenance.

The submarine is part of Submarine Division 8 as noted in the symbol on the side of the bridge fairing.

From an original negative in the private collection of Ric Hedman

Two of the O-8's officers on the forward deck, standing around the retracted 3"/23 caliber deck gun. Location is unknown but is likely off the New England coast in the ealy 1920's. This photo gives a very good view of the configuration of the gun when it was retracted. The watertight tub that the gun retracted into went down through the superstructure and into the pressure hull in the forward battery compartment. The muzzle end of the gun was closed off by a tampion to protect the corrosion sensitive barrel liner. The round gun shield also acted as the top of the gun tub, sealing off the breech and the elevation and training mechanisms and keeping them dry.

Above the men's heads is the horn for the air whistle, the ship's bell, and the forward navigation light.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman