General B-class photos

This photo came in a collection of B-class images. It shows the first three commanding officers of the B-class submarines in late 1908, along with the flotilla mascot. From left to right:

•LT Donald C. "Bingie" Bingham of the Viper.
•LT Edward J.G. Marquart of the Cuttlefish.
•Bobs the Bulldog, flotilla mascot
•LT Joseph F. Daniels of the Tarantula

Within a few months of this picture, all three men would move on to new assignments. It was actually uncommon for a full Lieutenant to command a submarine in those days as subs were considered a minor command. These men would likely move on to the crew of a surface warship.

U.S. Navy photo

The stern of a B-class submarine, showing the arrangement of the single propeller, the rudders, and the diving planes. The B-class would be the last single propeller submarine in the USN until the USS Albacore (AGSS-569) of 1953.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

Tarantula (R) mooring to Viper (L) in an unknown port circa 1910. The small size of these boats is quite apparent here, when compared to the size of the men. The narrow decks and the necessity of having to go over the side to affix the lines to the hull mounted mooring cleats made this a rather unsafe evolution. No safety harnesses, no life jackets. A modern NAVOSH inspector would have a fit seeing this.

Oh well. Such was the life of a Pigboat sailor. "All in a day's work!"

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

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