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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)

Cuttlefish / B-2 (SS-11)

Radio Call Sign: November - Delta - Xray

B Class Submarine: Laid down, 30 August 1905, at Fore River Shipbuilding Co., Quincy, MA.; Launched, 1 September 1906; Commissioned USS Cuttlefish, 18 October 1907; Decommissioned, 30 November 1909, at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, SC; Recommissioned, 15 April 1910; Renamed USS B-2, 17 November 1911; Decommissioned, 4 December 1912; Recommissioned, 2 August 1913, at Cavite Navy Yard, PI; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 12 December 1919; Final Disposition, sunk as a target.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced 145 t., Submerged 173 t.; Length 82' 5"; Beam 12' 6"; Draft 10' 7"; Speed, surfaced 9 kts, submerged 8 kts; Complement, 1 Officer 9 Enlisted; Armament, two 18" torpedo tubes, four torpedoes; Propulsion, gasoline-electric, Craig Shipbuilding Co. gasoline engines, 250 hp, Fuel Capacity, 1,880 gals, Electric Dynamic Co, electric motors, Battery Cells 60, single propeller.

Click On Image For Full Size	Size	Image Description	Source
	103k	Launching of Cuttlefish (SS-11) at Fore River Shipbuilding Co., Quincy, MA. 1 September 1906.	Photo courtesy of R.C. Richards, U.S. Submarines Through 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. Naval Institute Press. PDF image and text provided by The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundation. Photo from The Sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 22 November 1914, Image 38, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
	NR	CUTTLEFISH(SS-11) LAUNCHED CHRISTENED BY MISS GOW AT QUINCY SHIPYARD.	Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 02 September 1906, Image 13, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
0801100	825k	Launch of the Cuttlefish (SS-11).	Photo courtesy of digitalcommonwealth
	1.84k	NEW SUBMARINES FOR OUR NAVY. The submarine torpedo boat Cuttlefish (SS-11) which was launched at Gurney Mass. last week is one of the four Holland boats now being built for the government at that place. The dimensions and particulars of the *Cuttlefish* are held as confidential by the navy department but it is known that it is to be larger and faster than the Holland boats now owned by the government.	Image and text provided by University of Utah, Marriott Library. Photo from Desert Evening News. (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 22 Septembr 1906, Last Edition, Part Two, Image 26, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
	1.68k	WARNED by costly accidents, UNCLE SAM will substitute submarines for HARBOR mines in his SCHEME of costal DEFENCE.	Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo from The Washington Times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 07 October 1906, Magazine Section, Image 40, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
	76k	Cuttlefish (SS-11) underway, circa 1907. Photographed by the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut.	USNHC photograph # NH 55541.
	92k	Cuttlefish (SS-11) off Newport, Rhode Island, circa 1907.	USNHC photograph # NH 55540.
	103k	The three B-boats (SS-10/12) (Inboard) Cuttlefish (SS-11), Tarantula (SS-12), and Viper (SS-10) share a snowy dry dock at the New York Navy Yard, 25 January 1908. Note that each one still has a single fixed periscope, with a flagstaff above it. Boats running submerged flew flags on these staffs to warn surface ships against running them down. Note, too, the running lights affixed to boards on the foremasts.	Collection of Rear. Admiral Henry Williams. USNHC photograph Text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Through 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. Naval Institute Press.
	NR	Youngest Naval Sponsor Held Her Court at Meeting. The Cuttlefish (SS-11) was sponsored by Miss Eleanor Gow, daughter of Commander J. L. Gow.	Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo from The Washington Times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 21 February 1908, Last Edition, Image 6, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
	221k	The B-boats of the Viper class: Viper (SS-10), Cuttlefish (SS-11), & Tarantula (SS-12), the ultimate development of the single screw *Holland* design, introduced a much more extensive superstructure for sea keeping. As designed, *Viper* had only the single periscope shown, as in *Plunger*, it was let into the conning tower. A second (hull) periscope was later added. Engine gearing had been abandoned, the propeller shaft no longer coincided precisely with the axis of the hull. Air compressors and main bilge pumps were driven from the main shaft via clutches and gears; they could be operated by either the motor or the engine. Note that, in a boat this small, a reload torpedo occupied much of the hull.	Collection of Rear. Admiral Henry Williams. USNHC photograph Text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Through 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. Naval Institute Press.
	102k	Cuttlefish (SS-11) in port, circa 1907-1911.	USNHC photograph # NH 37.
	101k	Cuttlefish (SS-11) in port with crew members on deck, circa 1907-1911.	USNHC photograph # NH 36.
	541k	Cuttlefish (SS-11) in port, probably at the New York Navy Yard, circa 1908. Photographed by Enrique Muller.	National Archives Identifier: 45513740 Local Identifier: 165-WW-338B-024 Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
	470k	Viper (SS-10), Cuttlefish (SS-11) and Tarantula (SS-12) lie together in dry dock at the New York Navy Yard, 25 January 1908.	NARA (National Archives and Record Administration) photo # 19N-15-28-6, courtesy of Daniel Dunham.
	408k	B-2 (SS-11) in drydock.	USN photo thanks to Jim Kurrasch @ Battleship Iowa, Pacific Battleship Center.
	85k	The Cuttlefish (SS-11), probably in dry dock at the New York Navy Yard, 25 January 1908.	Courtesy of Robert Hurst.
	NR	SUBMARINES FOR THE PACIFIC	Image and text provided by Washington State Library; Olympia, WA. Photo from Aberdeen Herald. (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 09 November 1908, Image 7, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
	NR	U. S. SUBMARINES DARING CRUISERS AT THE TOP THE VIPER (SS-10); BELOW THE *TARANTULA. AND THE ROUTE THEY WILL TAKE ON OCEAN TRIP. An adventure watched with interest by the navy officials and by thousands throughout the country is the cruise of four submarines from Philadelphia to Charleston, S. C. The boats are the Tarantula, Viper, Cuttlefish* (SS-11) and Octopus (SS-9).	Image and text provided by Washington State Library; Olympia, WA. Photo from The Spokane Press. (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 12 November 1908, Image 7, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
0801004	721k	Cuttlefish (SS-11), Tarantula (SS-12), and Viper (SS-10) in port, circa 1909.	Photo courtesy of history.navy.mil
	122k	Cuttlefish (SS-11) participating in a naval review in New York Harbor, circa 1910.	USNHC photograph # NH 76492.
	117k	All three B-class submarines at Annapolis, MD, 1910. From left to right: Cuttlefish (SS-11), Viper (SS-10), & Tarantula (SS-12). In the background on the left is the cruiser Olympia (C-6) and in the center is an unidentified C or D class submarine.	Text courtesy of David Johnston Digital ID # 19799, LC-F81-2433. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, National Photo Company Collection.
	1.48k	HARD LIFE ON A SUBMARINE AIR HEAVY WITH GASOLINE. A CHIEF CAUSE OF TROUBLE. THE SUBMARINES TARANTULA (SS-12) & CUTTLEFISH (SS-11) MOORED IN THE BASIN OF THE NAVAL ACADEMY. THE OLYMPIA (C-6), DEWEY'S FLAGSHIP AT MANILA, IN THE OFFING.	Image and text provided by The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundation. Photo from The Sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 10 July 1910, Third Section, Image 29, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
0801119	525k	*B-2* in Manila Bay, probably between 1914 and 1919.	Photo courtesy of David Wright. Text i.d. via Dave Johnston.
	82k	Ajax (AC-14) in Manila Bay, Philippine Islands, preparing to launch B-2 (SS-11) from her deck, circa 12 May 1913. *Ajax* had transported *B-2* and B-3 (SS-12) to Manila from Norfolk, Virginia.	USNHC photograph # NH 98923.
	97k	B-3 (SS-12) lies in Manila Bay after her voyage from Norfolk with B-2 (SS-11) as deck cargo, forward, in late April or May 1913, before they were launched from her deck.	USNHC photo # NH 90172, from the Philip H. Wilson Collection, submitted by Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory)
	80k	B-2 (SS-11) off the Cavite Navy Yard, Philippine Islands, with an awning rigged and crew members on deck, circa 1913-1917.	USNHC photograph # NH 63093.
	447k	B-3 (SS-12) with the 31 on her hull and an officer in dress whites looking at her sisters as they sail in the Philippine Islands.	National Archives Identifier: 45513801 Local Identifier: 165-WW-338B-54 Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
	72k	Cavite Navy Yard, Philippine Islands. View on the waterfront, with a rather rough sea running, circa 1914-1916. B-2 (SS-11) is alongside the pier in right center.	USNHC photograph # NH 88580.
	67k	B-1 (SS-10), (inboard) & B-2(SS-11) at the Cavite Naval Base, Philippines, 1916.	Photo courtesy of Vern Maxson, LCDR(SS), USNR-Ret. Photo fix by Jim Keeling.

View the Cuttlefish / B-2 (SS-11)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.

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