USS O-8

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USS O-8 (SS-69), also known as "Submarine No. 69", was one of 16 O-class submarines of the United States Navy commissioned during World War I. She was recommissioned prior to the United States entry into WWII, for use as a trainer.

Design

The O-1-class submarines were designed to meet a Navy requirement for coastal defense boats.Template:Sfn The submarines had a length of Template:Cvt overall, a beam of Template:Cvt, and a mean draft of Template:Cvt. They displaced Template:Cvt on the surface and Template:Cvt submerged. The O-class submarines had a crew of 2 officers and 27 enlisted men. They had a diving depth of Template:Cvt.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

For surface running, the boats were powered by two Template:Convert NELSECO 6-EB-14 diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a Template:Convert Electro-Dynamic Company electric motor.Template:Sfn They could reach Template:Convert on the surface and Template:Cvt underwater. On the surface, the O-class had a range of Template:Convert at Template:Cvt.Template:Sfn

The boats were armed with four 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes in the bow. They carried four reloads, for a total of eight torpedoes. The O-class submarines were also armed with a single [[3"/23 caliber gun|Template:Cvt/23 caliber]] retractable deck gun.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Construction

O-8Template:'s keel was laid down on 27 February 1917, by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on 31 December 1917,Template:Sfn sponsored by Mrs. Alice C. Burg,Template:Sfn and commissioned on 11 July 1918.Template:Sfn

Service history

During the final stages of World War I, O-8 operated out of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, on coastal patrol duty from Cape Cod, in Massachusetts, to Key West, in Florida. She departed Newport, Rhode Island, on 2 November 1918, with a 20-sub contingent bound for European waters; the duty was cancelled, however, as the Armistice with Germany was signed before the vessels reached the Azores.Template:Sfn

The end of the "war to end all wars" did not terminate O-8Template:'s career; she now operated in a training capacity at the Submarine School, New London, Connecticut.Template:Sfn

When the US Navy adopted its hull classification system on 17 July 1920, she received the hull number SS-69.Template:Sfn

USS O-8 arriving in port, Template:Circa 1927

In 1924, she sailed for duty in Panama, where she was classified as a second-line submarine on 25 July 1924. Reverting to a first-liner on 6 June 1928, she sailed from New London, in February 1931, to Philadelphia, and decommissioned there 27 May 1931.Template:Sfn

The imminence of World War II sparked the recall to service. O-8 recommissioned at Philadelphia, on 28 April 1941, with Lieutenant John S. McCain, Jr. taking command.Template:Sfn In June, she returned to Submarine School, New London, to train students there until war's end.Template:Sfn

Fate

Departing New London, on 25 August 1945, the ship steamed to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and decommissioned there on 11 September 1945; she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 11 October 1945, and was sold to the John J. Duane Company, of Quincy, on 4 September 1946.Famous American Admirals

Bibliography

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External links

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• Beautiful, sharp black and white pictures taken of the interior and exterior of USS O-8 (SS-69)