O-16

A not yet commissioned O-16 sitting in shallow water at the fitting out pier at the California Shipbuilding yard, Long Beach, California, February 11, 1918. CALSHIP was having significant difficulties in getting the boats assigned to them completed. Fed up with the delays, the Navy took over the boats and had them towed up the coast to the Mare Island Navy Yard near San Francisco for completion. She is either sitting on the bottom in the shallow water, or she has yet to have the heavy items like engines, motors, or batteries installed. None of the topside structures other than the cylindrical conning tower have been installed.

Photo NH 44569 courtesy of NHHC.

Like a photo on the O-13 page, O-16 is shown here with 70 sailors topside. This is twice her normal crew size of 27. Why so many are aboard is not clear, but it is likely that this is a liberty party from multiple boats of the squadron, with O-16 serving the role of a "taxi". She would pick up the sailors from a nest of the squadron boats anchored offshore to the pier, then run them back to the squadron nest at the expiration of liberty that evening. The exact date and location is unknown, but we suspect that it is in the Panama area during 1920-1923.

Photo NH 44568 courtesy of NHHC, a print is in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

A couple of unidentified sailors from the O-16 clowning for the camera. One is assisting the other in going a handstand. The bathing suits being worn are made out of wool. Date is April 1920, location is unknown.

Photo courtesy of George Petersen, grandson of George Petersen, a crewman on O-boats. Photo now in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

O-16 is shown here moored at Coco Solo, Panama in the mid 1920's. It is a slow duty day, as several sailors are preparing to take a swim, including one man on the after end of the fairwater, and one man about to leap in while standing on the top of the amidships superstructure flood port. The advisability of swimming in the harbor water is somewhat poor, as the water quality around naval bases in those days was quite sketchy. However, recreational opportunities were limited, and swimming was still a favorite pass time and a way to keep fit.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

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