This photo of the S-8 was taken prior to her launch on April 21, 1920. It may be taken the day before or the same day as the launch. The platform is in place to accommodate guests and dignitaries. A second submarine, the S-9, is seen to the right in the photo. The photo was taken inside the old Franklin Shiphouse at Portsmouth Navy Yard. The S-class boats were built two at a time inside the shiphouse with the boat on the left being the first of the pair started. Note the steel guards around the bow planes in the lower center of the photo, and the partially lowered starboard side anchor.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.
S-8 in dry dock, Probably at Portsmouth or the Boston Navy Yard, Early 1920's. Note stern plane arrangement. It seems to be one large plate with a single ram for moving it, and it is suspended above the rudder on two angle stanchions. Also of note in this picture is the very fine tapered stern of the boat, sometimes referred to as as a "chisel" stern.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
A group of senior officers inspecting the S-8, likely at the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA., December, 1927. The officers are on board getting insight into the difficulties of rescuing the men trapped on the sunken sister boat S-4. The S-8 served the rescue and salvage force as practice and training boat for the salvage men and divers.
