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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

V-6 (SC-2)
Nautilus (SS-168)

Radio Call Sign: November - India - Charlie - Xray

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons


Presidential Unit Citation
Narwhal Class Submarine: Laid down, 10 May 1927, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 15 March 1930; Commissioned Cruiser Submarine USS V-6 (SC-2), 1 July 1930; Renamed Nautilus, 19 February 1931; Re-designated (SS-168), 1 July 1931; Decommissioned, 30 June 1945; Struck from the Naval Register, 25 July 1945; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 16 November 1945, North American Smelting Co., Philadelphia, PA. Nautilus earned the Presidential Unit Citation and 14 battle stars for her service during World War II.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 2,730 t., Submerged: 3,960 t.; Length 371' ; Beam 33' 3"; Draft 15' 9"; Speed, Surfaced 17 kts, Submerged 8 kts; Depth Limit 300'; Complement 8 officers 80 enlisted; Armament, four 21" torpedo tubes forward, two 21" torpedo tubes aft, four 21" torpedo tubes topside, 24 torpedoes; two single 6"/53 deck gun, two 30 cal. mgs.; Propulsion, diesel electric, Maschinfabrik - Augusburg- Nurnburg, New York Navy Yard diesel engines, hp 3175, Fuel Capacity, 182,778 gal., Westinghouse Electric Co., electric motors, hp 2500, Battery Cells 240, twin propellers.
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Nautilus 921kKeel blocks are set and the staging framework is in progress for the construction of the Nautilus (SS-168). Ways extension under way. Don't ask me why the ways are being ready for a May 1927 keel laying. Could the Construction & Repair Department and the Public Works Department be working from the same plan??? USN photo MINSY 6197-11-26 from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 214k V-6 (SC-2) later renamed Nautilus (SS-168), on the building ways & starting to take shape, looking northeast showing erection of scaffolding uprights' from stem to ABT East Fr. 162 (north track partly covered with rock ballast). Mare Island, Cal., 1 December 1926. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 186k V-6 (SC-2) on the building ways at Mare Island, Cal. Looking southwest from boatswain's office, 14 April 1927. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 141k General View Mold Loft - Bldg. 390. Mare Island, Cal; 14 April 1927. The place were the lines of the V-6 (SC-2) were laid down. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 246k The honorary keel laying party watch while the professional workers complete the job of laying the keel of the V-6 (SC-2) at Mare Island in August 1927. Photo courtesy of Candi L. Barr (Parker) grand daughter of Bert A. Barr, Quarterman Shipfitter & submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 206k Amidships section of flat and vertical keel plates assembled ready for keel laying of V-6 (SC-2), Mare Island, Calif. 2 August 1927. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 204k Driving first official rivet on ways for the V-6 (SC-2) at Mare Island, Calif. 2 August 1927 11:52 AM. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 200k Keel laying commandant, officers and riveting gang, Mare Island, Calif.; while working on the V-6 (SC-2), 2 August 1927. From left to right: Front row; LT J. W. (Duke) Paige, C.C., Ship Supt; CDR E. L. Patch, C.C., Asst. Inside Supr, New Work Hull (In general charge of Keel Laying Arrangements); CDR F. J. Wille, Outside Supt.; CAPT C. S. McDowell, Inside Supt.; LCDR W. C. Wade, Asst. Shop Supt.; RADM J. H. Dayton, Commandant Mare Island Navy Yard; CDR E. D. (Bill) Almy, Shop Supt.; J. T. Moroney, Master Shipfitter Back Row: Fred Coppo, Rivet Heater; A. P. Schneidewind, Riveter; J. F. Nichelini, Holder-on (all members of regular riveting gang); Honorary Riveting Group: A. L. Luck, Leadingman Shipwirght "Riveter"; W. L. Blackmore, Leadingman Pipefitter "Rivet Passer"; J. E. Moon, Leadingman Machinist "Rivet Heater"; Charles Deaver, Quarterman Riveter "Rivet Heater"; Tom Schofield, Master Rigger & Laborer "Holder-on"; B. A. (Bert) Barr. Quarterman Shipfitter "Riveter"; F. W. Savage, Quarterman Electrician "Rivet Tester"; J. R. Greig, Asst. Shop Supt. "Rivet Tester. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 145k Main engine room forward starboard corner on the V-6 (SC-2) under construction at Mare Island Navy Yard on 7 July 1927. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 159k After torpedo room looking forward on the V-6 (SC-2) under construction at Mare Island Navy Yard on 7 July 1927. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 175k Mare Island, Cal 8 September 1928. General view from crane track aft showing stern of the V-6 (SC-2), erected aft to frame. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168154k V-6 (SC-2) is seen of the building ways at Mare Island between 6 November 1929 and 30 December 1929 looking aft. The Chicago (CA-29) is on the building ways to the left. The stern of the Bonita (SS-165) can just be seen to the far right in dry dock number one. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168292k V-6 (SC-2) is seen of the building ways at Mare Island between 6 November 1929 and 30 December 1929 looking aft. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 301k V-6 (SC-2) is seen of the building ways at Mare Island between 6 November 1929 and 30 December 1929 looking aft. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168177k Mare Island's first submarine, the V-6's (SC-2) is seen on the building ways in early 1930. The submarine's screws have not been installed in this photo.USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Nautilus 323kWorkmen warily walk the rails as work winds a welcoming restraint awhile where the V-6 (SC-2) waits on the ways.USNHC photo # NH 70724 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Nautilus 206kBow view of V-6 (SC-2) on the building ways at Mare Island in March 1930. The Chicago (CA-29) is on the building ways to the left. USN photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 44k Miss Jean Keesling, the 16 year old daughter of a prominent San Francisco attorney, was the sponsor of the V-6 (SC-2) at its launching at Mare Island Navy Yard on 15 March 1930. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 919k Mutual congratulations between RADM George William Laws, Commandant of Mare Island Navy Yard, and the sponsor Miss Jean Keesling just before the launching of new submarine V-6 (SC-2) at the naval yard near Vallejo, California. Image distributed by Newspaper Enterprise Association via Bill Gonyo.
SS 168 157k V-6 (SC-2) is on the ways on launch day 15 March 1930 at Mare Island Navy Yard. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 165k Thomas John Doyle, the 1st commander of the Nautilus (SS-168). Photo courtesy familysearch.org.
SS 168 300k View of the launching platform and the main attraction of the day: Nautilus (SS-168). Photo from the private collection of Ric Hedman.
SS 168 280k Nautilus (SS-168) has some ways to go before her launching at Mare Island on 15 March 1930. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
SS 168 215k The crowd gathers to watch the launching of the V-6 (SC-2) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 15 March 1930. A Movietone trucks appears in the lower right corner of the picture. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Nautilus 173kThe V-6 (SC-2) is about to get her first taste of liquid just prior to launching on the building ways at Mare Island, 15 March 1930. USN photo # 4545-1-3-30 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum and submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 2.00k The Nautilus (SS-168) is half way down the ways at her launching at Mare Island on 15 March 1930. USN photo # 137-3-30 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum and submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 625k Stern view of the Nautilus (SS-168) coming down the ways at her launching at Mare Island on 15 March 1930. USN photo # 2142-3-300 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum and submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 625k Nautilus (SS-168) is way down the way at her launching at Mare Island on 15 March 1930. USN photo # 2508-3-30 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum and submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 311k Stern first slide into the water, the Nautilus (SS-168) is Bay bound. Photo from the private collection of Ric Hedman.
SS 168 109k V-6 (SC-2) is waterborne after its launching at Mare Island Navy Yard on 15 March 1930.USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 303k Off to the fitting-out dock with the help of a tug or two. Left to right is YMT-4, stern view on Navigator (YT-39) and YMT-2. Photo from the private collection of Ric Hedman.
SS-168 180k View on deck of the V-6 (SC-2) looking forward from the bridge. Taken while she was fitting out at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 12 April 1930. Note that her forward 6"/53 deck gun has not yet been fitted. V-4 (SM-1) and barge YR-5 are in the background. Courtesy of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 1970.U.S. National Archives # 70676.
SS 168 1.90k Commissioning ceremonies aboard the Nautilus (SS-168) at Mare Island on 1 July 1930. USN photo # 611-7-30 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum and submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 21k Commemorative postal cover marking the V-6's (SC-2), commissioning, 1 July 1930. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Nautilus
0816864		 NR NEWEST SUBMARINE The U. S. navy's newest submarine, V-6 (SC-2) is placed into commission at Mare Island navy yard, California. Image and text provided by Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT.
Photo from New Britain Herald. (Bridgeport, Conn.) [volume] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 05 July 1930, FIRST EDITION, Second Section, Image 14,via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Nautilus 307kThe U.S. flag forward flutters from V-6 (N-2) fitting out, now as a commissioned warship at Mare Island on 12 July 1930.Mare Island photo # 626-30 via NH 70681 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
SS 168 127k V-6 (SC-2), along with S-22 (SS-127) left and the Aaron Ward (DD-132) behind V-6 are seen in dry dock 2 at Mare Island Navy Yard in July 1930. Shipyard records indicate V-6 was in overhaul from July 1 to 15 October 1930; S-22 in overhaul from 6 April to 29 July 1930; and Aaron Ward in overhaul from 31 May to 8 August 1930. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168125kV-6 (SC-2) is departing Mare Island Navy Yard in October 1930. The Chicago (CA-29) is seen in the distance. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Nautilus 410kBow view of V-6 (SC-2) outside of dry dock #2 at Mare Island on 7 October 1930. The Chicago (CA-29) is at her outfitting berth to the right. USN photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
Nautilus 213kStern view of V-6 (SC-2) leaving dry dock #2 at Mare Island on 7 October 1930. USN photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
Nautilus 215kThe V-6 (SC-2) nears her berth at Mare Island on 7 October 1930. I believe the ship forward of her is Arctic (AF-7).USN photo # 861-30, from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
Nautilus 352kThe bow of the V-6 (SC-2) taken from the bridge looking forward on 7 October 1930. USN photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
Nautilus 295kBow view of V-6 (SC-2) in San Pablo Bay west of Mare Island on 8 October 1930. USN photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
Nautilus 172kDecks are awash as V-6 (SC-2) starts a trim dive in San Pablo Bay on 8 October 1930. USN photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
Nautilus 102kOnly top of fair water is visible as V-6 (SC-2) starts a trim dive in San Pablo Bay on 8 October 1930. USN photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
Nautilus 104kAt periscope depth on a trim dive of V-6 (SC-2) in San Pablo Bay on 8 October 1930. USN photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 275k V-6 (SC-2), is seen off Mare Island Navy Yard circa 1930. The city of Vallejo, Calif. is in the background. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Nautilus 211kV-6 (SC-2) operated out of New London, conducting special submergence tests, until March of 1931. The boat is pictured here in New York City. USN photo courtesy of San Francisco Examiner via David S. Smith.
Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
Nautilus 225k Cut away diagram of V-6 (SC-2) that appeared in the New York Times on 19 March 1931. Photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Nautilus 224k V-6 (SC-2) amidships, port side looking aft. C & R photo # 14117 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Nautilus 4.73kThis submarine did not have an identity problem.
V-6 is listed on the steel plating on the bow, Nautilus in bold on her hull, and N-2 on her bridge. All of her names accompanied her in this photo in Washington D.C. before being redesignated SS-168 on 1 July 1931. She made her appearance in the capitol's Navy yard sometime during March 1931 when she proceeded to Pearl Harbor where she became Flagship of SubDiv 12.
The Eagle Class Patrol Vessel PE-35 is in the background.
Nautilus, fresh from conquering the depths off Portsmouth. N. H. where she set a record for the service when she dove in the vicinity of 336 feet, is shown with her officers, anchored at the Washington Navy Yard. Under the terms of the London naval treaty, the United States will be restricted from constructing submarines of this caliber. The Nautilus is 371 feet long, displaces 2,730 tons, mounts two 6-inch guns and has a surface speed of 17 knots. She carries a crew of 9 officers and 79 enlisted men. The officers are, left to right: Lieut. G. H. Boknman, Lieut. J. G. Atkins, Lieut. (Junior Grade) G. J. Dufek. Lieut. W. M. Percifield, Lieut. (Junior Grade) H. F. Dearth. Lieut. Com dr. T. J. Doyle, commanding officer; Lieut. (Junior, Grade) Bugnet and Lieut. (Junior Grade) E. C. Buerkle.
Tbe submarine will be at the navy yard until Friday, when she will leave for the Canal Zone. Visitors may view the submarine at the dock. 		Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
Photo LOC #36368a courtesy of Stephen Gower.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Ric Hedman,David Johnston & Robert Morgan.
Insert image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo & text by Evening Star [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 14 April 1931, Image 17, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
SS 168 188k Overhead view of the Nautilus (SS-168), circa June 1931. USN photo courtesy of San Francisco Examiner via David S. Smith.
SS 164 1.32k Submarines at San Pedro July to August 32 Olympics.
Inboard from left to right; Narwhal (SS-167), Nautilus (SS-168) & Bass (SS-164).
Back of the photo is labeled...to accomadate visitors? 		Photo courtesy of John Pakusich & John Pat via David Way, Curator, Battleship Iowa BB 61, Pacific Battleship Center,250 S. Harbor Blvd., Berth 87, San Pedro, CA 90731.
SS 168
0816802r		 1.10k Holland (AS-3) at anchor in the harbor at San Diego, CA., 10 November 1932, with Nautilus (SS-168), Narwhal (SS-167) and Bass (SS-164) alongside. US National Archives photo # 80G-463339, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives courtesy of Rick Davis, Mike Brock via Gary Priolo.
SS 168 1.00k Oblique view of Nautilus (SS-168) pictured here underway, March 1933. Photo i.d. via Ric Hedman & David Johnston.
US National Archives photo # 80G 463341 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Nautilus
0816869		 1.11kPhoto of Officer & Crew showing Nautilus (SS-168), 22 April 1933.USN photo NHHC NH 85839 courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 94k Nautilus (SS-168), Argonaut (SS-166); and Narwhal (SS-167); (listed left to right) Tied up together in port, circa the early 1930s. Courtesy of J.A. Casoly.
USNHC photograph USNHC # NH 45667.
Winter & Pond 83k Tender and submarines at dock in Juneau, Alaska, July, 1934. At far left, tender Holland (AS-3), submarines (l to r) Bass (SS-164), Bonita (SS-165), Barracuda (SS-163), Nautilus (SS-168) and Narwhal (SS-167). The mill of the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Company is in the background. Photo by Winter & Pond courtesy of the Alaska State Library. Submitted by Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory)
Argonaut417k Holland (AS-3) with seven submarines alongside, in San Diego harbor, California, possibly around 24 December 1934. The submarines are (from left to right):
Cachalot (SS-170);
Dolphin (SS-169);
Barracuda(SS-163);
Bass (SS-164);
Bonita (SS-165);
Nautilus (SS-168); and
Narwhal (SS-167)		USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
SS-170,163,164,165,168 & 167 94k Holland (AS-3) in San Diego harbor, California, circa 1935. Submarines alongside are (from outboard to inboard):
Cachalot (SS-170);
Barracuda(SS-163);
Bass (SS-164);
Bonita (SS-165);
Nautilus (SS-168); and
Narwhal (SS-167).
Closest ship in the nest of destroyers at far right is Yarnall (DD-143).		 Photograph NH # 82789, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Navy Day 78k Commemorative postal cover marking:
Bass (SS-164);
Dolphin (SS-169);
Porpoise (SS-172);
Argonaut (SS-169);
Nautilus (SS-168);
Cuttlefish (SS-171)
Barracuda (SS-163);
Narwhal (SS-167)
Bonita (SS-165); &
Cachalot (SS-170)
on Navy Day, 27 October 1935. 		Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Memorial Day 17kCommemorative postal cover marking Memorial Day at sea aboard the Nautilus (SS-168), 30 May 1935. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
SS 168 24k Commemorative postal cover marking issued on the occasion of Nautilus's (SS-168) 600th dive, 14 July, 1936. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
SS-172 119k Holland (AS-3) with seven submarines alongside, circa 1936-1939. These "boats" are, from left to right:
Nautilus (SS-168);
Narwhal (SS-167);
Shark (SS-174), marked "P3";
Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1";
Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1";
Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and
Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4". 		NH # 3036, courtesy of U.S. Naval Historical Center.
SS-172 82k Holland (AS-3) with seven submarines alongside, circa 1936-1939. These "boats" are, from left to right:
Nautilus (SS-168);
Narwhal (SS-167);
Shark (SS-174), marked "P3";
Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1";
Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1";
Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and
Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4". 		NH # 3037, courtesy of U.S. Naval Historical Center.
SS-172 90k Holland (AS-3) with seven submarines alongside, circa 1936-1939. These "boats" are, from left to right:
Nautilus (SS-168);
Narwhal (SS-167);
Shark (SS-174), marked "P3";
Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1";
Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1";
Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and
Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4". 		NH # 3038, courtesy of U.S. Naval Historical Center.
SS-172 96k Holland (AS-3) with seven submarines alongside, circa 1936-1939. These "boats" are, from left to right:
Nautilus (SS-168);
Narwhal (SS-167);
Shark (SS-174), marked "P3";
Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1";
Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1";
Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and
Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4". 		NH # 3039, courtesy of U.S. Naval Historical Center.
Fleet Maneuvers 17kCommemorative postal cover marking Fleet Maneuvers of the following subs off Midway, 5 April 1937:
Argonaut (SS-166), Nautilus (SS-168), Dolphin (SS-169), Porpoise (SS-172), Pike (SS-173), & Shark (SS-174). 		Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
SS 168 116k The Navy's greatest undersea cruisers will depart from San Diego sometime early next week,18 March 1938 with squadrons of the U.S. Fleet on the six week spring war games in the Hawaiian - Alaska sector. The Nautilus (SS-168) is shown here photographed from her sister ship, the Narwhal (SS-167). USN photo courtesy of San Francisco Examiner via David S. Smith.
Text courtesy of Wide World Photo.
BB-39 Arizona1.36kPearl Harbor, 1938: Nautilus (SS-168) with Arizona (BB-39) behind on the right and Pennsylvania (BB-38) on the left. Portland (CL-33) is behind Pennsylvania and the bow of a New Mexico class battleship is at the extreme left.Photo courtesy of Roger Reynolds.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Richard Jensen.
SS 168 152k Nautilus (SS-168), off the coast of Mare Island, circa 1940. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Argonaut134kSubmarines at Pearl Harbor include the Pollack (SS-180) at far left, Nautilus (SS-168) & Argonaut (SS-166) and unidentified S-boat, 1940. Photographer: Carl Mydans,courtesy of Life.
Partial photo i.d. courtesy of David Johston (USNR).
128, 166 & 168 628k Two views of Nautilus (SS-168), Argonaut (SS-166) and S-23 (SS-128) (L to R) moored at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in September, 1940. Source: LIFE Magazine Archives - Carl Mydans Photographer, shared by Peter DeForest via Mike Green.
SS=168 & 191 880kA painting by William Beaumont of the Nautilus (SS-168) & Sculpin (SS-191) meeting on the surface in 1941. Image courtesy of National Geographic/Corbis via "Silent Killers: Submariens and Underwater Warfare" by James P. Delgado via Robert Hurst.
SS 168 796k Artwork by I. R. Lloyd showing the Nautilus (SS-168) sinking a Japanese Maru. Photo by I. R. Lloyd from the files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 90k Nautilus (SS-168), off Mare Island on 15 April 1942 after modification which included addition of four external torpedo tubes. Note her very heavy deck armament of two 6"/53 guns; also embrasure in her upper hull side, just in front of the forward gun, for newly-installed topside torpedo tubes. At least two torpedoes are on deck above this location, probably being prepared for stowage below. Shipyard records show that she was in overhaul 30 July 1941 to 20 April 1942. Partial text courtesy of # 19-N-29179, from the Bureau of Ships Collection.
USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 169k Drawing depicting the sinking of the IJN aircraft carrier Soryu at Midway, June 1942. In fact, the Nautilus (SS-168) fired torpedoes at the IJN aircraft carrier Kaga. One torpedo actually hit the ship. However, due to faulty design problems which plagued the Navy throughout the first 2 plus years of the war, the torpedo failed to explode, actually broke in half with the warhead plunging to the bottom and the back half serving as a life raft of sorts for Japanese survivors floating in the waters off Midway. Drawing by Lt. Cmdr. Fred Freemen, courtesy of Theodore Roscoe, from his book "U.S. Submarine Operations of WW II", published by USNI.
SS 168 107k Letter of commendation for Lt. Cmdr. Roy Benson, then XO of the Nautilus (SS-168) at the Battle of Midway, 4-6 June 1942. The boat fired 3 torpedoes at the IJN aircraft carrier Kaga. USN photo courtesy of Rick Connole, son of Commander David R. Connole, K.I.A. while commanding the Trigger (SS-237), 28 March 1945.
Nautilus
0816806		 1.07kArtwork by I. R. Lloyd showing Nautilus (SS-168) sinking Japanese vessels when William D. Morast served aboard her in 1942 when she received her Presidential Unit Citation and other memorabilia. Photos courtesy of William D. Morast via his son Steve Morast.
SS 168 48k Lieutenant Commander William H. Brockman, Jr., USN after being presented with the Navy Cross for his performance while in command of Nautilus (SS-168) during the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Photographed during the awards ceremony at the Pearl Harbor submarine base, 7 November 1942.
William Herman Brockman, Jr., was born at Baltimore, Maryland, on 18 November 1904.
Enlisting in the Naval Reserve in 1922, he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy a year later and graduated from there in 1927. He specialized in submarines from 1929 onward and commanded the submarine rescue ship Mallard (ASR-4) in 1938-39.
Lieutenant Commander Brockman was Commanding Officer of Nautilus (SS-168) during the June 1942 Battle of Midway and in subsequent operations, earning the Navy Cross with two gold stars for himself and the Presidential Unit Citation for his ship during this period. After a year with the Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet, Brockman was a Submarine Division commander from September 1944 to December 1945, receiving promotion to the rank of Captain in March 1945. He commanded Cahaba (AO-82) until February 1946, then served in Seventh Fleet and Navy headquarters staff positions until retiring in November 1947. Promoted to Rear Admiral upon retirement, Brockman was active in business for many years thereafter. He died at Boca Raton, Florida, on 2 January 1979. 		Official USN photo #: 80-G-20016, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. Photo & text submitted by Bill Gonyo.
SS 168 170k The destroyer Yamakaze starts her slide to the bottom of the Pacific with help from the Nautilus (SS-168) on 25 June 1942. As the ship starts her plunge, the Rising Sun emblem which was visible on her fore turret to passing airplanes is seen in the periscope cross-hairs.
In one of the ironies of war, at 01:37 on 11 February, the Yamakaze opened fire with her five-inch guns and sank the surfaced submarine Shark (SS-174). Voices were heard in the water, but no attempt was made to rescue possible survivors. There would be no survivors when the Yamakaze met her end either. 		USN photo courtesy of Rick Connole, son of Commander David R. Connole, K.I.A. while commanding the Trigger (SS-237), 28 March 1945.
SS 168 132k Close up of the above picture showing the sinking of the destroyer Yamakaze by the Nautilus (SS-168) on 25 June 1942. USN photo courtesy of Rick Connole, son of Commander David R. Connole, K.I.A. while commanding the Trigger (SS-237), 28 March 1945.
SS 168 363k Nautilus's (SS-168) sinking of the Yamakaze in color USN photo courtesy of Tommy Trampp.
SS 168 199k Oil on board by the artist I.L. Lloyd depicting the Nautilus (SS-168) engaging the Japanese merchant marine at close quarters. USN photo courtesy of Rick Connole, son of Commander David R. Connole, K.I.A. while commanding the Trigger (SS-237), 28 March 1945.
Trout 145k Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii. Vertical aerial view of the drydock area, 28 July 1942.
Floating drydock YFD-2 is at left, with Aylwin (DD-355) inside. Small drydock in center holds Growler (SS-215) and Nautilus (SS-168). Litchfield (DD-336) and an ARD floating drydock are in Drydock # 2, in right center. Drydock # 1, at right, contains West Virginia (BB-48). Submarines partially visible alongside 1010 Dock, in the extreme upper right, are Trout (SS-202) and Pollack (SS-180). Note anti-torpedo nets and booms protecting this area.		 Official USN photo # NH 83998, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of The Honorable James V. Forrestal.
SS 168 302k Ship's baker at oven in the galley of the Nautilus (SS-168), 13 August 1942. USN photo # 80-G-66000, from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
SS 168 424k U.S. Raid on Makin Island, August 1942. CUTTING "Good Luck" cake in wardroom of Nautilus (SS-168), 14 August 1942. Left to Right W. H. Brockman, Jr., Lt. Comdr, USN, Commanding officer Lt. Col. E. F. Carlson USMC Commanding Marine Commandos, Lt. Comdr. C. L. Kogan Eng. officer. National Archives Identifier: 6952423
Photo 80-G-11717 courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
SS 168 304k Cooking chicken in the galley of the Nautilus (SS-168), 18 August 1942. USN photo # 80-G-66001, from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
SS 168 96k Nautilus (SS-168) carrying her boatload of Marines as they loosen up aboard her en-route to the Makin Island Raid, 18 August 1942. USNHC photo # 80-G-33493 courtesy of Theodore Roscoe, from his book "U.S. Submarine Operations of WW II", published by USNI.
SS 168 551k Photograph of Corporal Vernon F. Paulstick, a Marine Commando aboard the Nautilus (SS-168) Going Top Side for Raid on Makin Island. Photo # 80-G-11723 courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
Makin Island521kNautilus (SS-168) returns to Pearl Harbor, T.H., August 25 after raid on Makin Island, August 17-18.
Argonaut (SS-166) right, returns as well.		Photos # 80-G-13858 & 59 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Makin Island Raid 96k Nautilus (SS-168) & Argonaut (SS-166) tied up to the dock at Pearl Harbor after returning from Makin Island Raid, 26 August 1942. Photo courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Makin Island Raid 835k Crew member paints a Japanese flag and hash-mark on one of the 6"/53 guns of Nautilus (SS-168), representing the two enemy vessels she sank with gunfire during the Makin Raid. Photographed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 25 August 1942. US National Archives photo # 80G 11730 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
SS 168 1.10k Crew photo of the Nautilus (SS-168) after the Makin Raid. Photographed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 25 August 1942. US National Archives photo # 80G 11735 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Nautilus
0816862		 NRDuring her fourth patrol, conducted in the Solomons 13 December 1942--4 February 1943, Nautilus (SS-168) rescued 26 adults and 3 children from Toep Harbor (31 December-1 January), then added the cargo ship Yosinogawa Maru to her kills on 9 January 1943 and damaged a tanker, a freighter and a destroyer.
Nautilus had received instructions to extract refugees located at Toep Harbor, on Bougainville Island, in the Solomons. The rescue was scheduled to be executed on the evening of the New Year’s Eve 1942, and the morning of New Year’s Day 1943.
On the evening of the 31st she submerged 10 miles off shore and approached the harbor. A small party went ashore to make contact with the evacuees – 17 Australian Coast Watchers and 29 civilians. The civilians included in that 29 were 14 women, 3 children, and 2 elderly priests.
Shortly after embarking, the evacuees were entertained in the crew’s mess hall and served a light supper. Women were given the officer’s quarters and the men had to "hot bunk," while much of the boat’s crew slept on deck. Brockman found the crew’s treatment of the evacuees to be exemplary and later remarked that it seemed "there was not a thing that the men would not do for them." On 4 January 1943, at 0310, Nautilus transferred her passengers to PC-476.
....15 years later....
On Submarine TV Program
Sister Mary Irene of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Orange, Calif., chats with Rear Admiral T. M. Dykes, USN (Ret.), World War II submarine skipper and executive producer of "The Silent Service," CNP documentary television series on submarine exploits. Beginning the first week in July the series will dramatize Sister's war-time rescue from enemy-held Bougainville, by the Submarine Nautilus. 		Text courtesy of DANFS & USNSubforceMuseum.
Insert image via combinedfleet.com.
Image and text provided by Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH.
Photo from The Catholic Times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 11 July 1958, Image 8,via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
SS 168 119k Nautilus (SS-168) offloading US Army Rangers into rubber boats at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 30 April 1943. This was a dress rehearsal for the raid on Attu Island, 11 May 1943, in which the Narwhal (SS-167) also participated. USN photo from "The American Submarine" by Norman Polmar, courtesy of Robert Hurst.
SS 168 143k Stern view of the Nautilus (SS-168) off Mare Island on 3 August 1943. USN photo # 5573-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 130k Broadside view of the Nautilus (SS-168) off Mare Island on 3 August 1943. USN photo # 5575-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 188k Bow on view of the Nautilus (SS-168) off Mare Island on 3 August 1943. USN photo # 5577-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 239k Aft plan view of the Nautilus (SS-168) at Mare Island on 3 August 1943. It appears she is being refueled. USN photo # 5586-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 178k Forward plan view of the Nautilus (SS-168) at Mare Island on 3 August 1943. It appears she is being refueled. USN photo # 5587-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 99k Nautilus (SS-168), is shown off Mare Island Navy Yard on 3 August 1943. She had already received external torpedo tubes during a Mare Island refit, July 1941-April 1942. One of them, firing aft, is visible under her gun deck. Another pair was fitted under the gun deck firing forward.
During the 1943 refit, they were relocated to positions nearer the bow, as shown here. Also visible is torpedo storage added under the gun deck.
The weapons in deck tubes turned out to be vulnerable; during the Battle of Midway in June 1942, for instance, a Japanese depth charge started a torpedo in one tube. That was potentially extremely dangerous: the torpedo armed after making a fixed number of propeller revolutions, and the external tube was not accessible unless the submarine surfaced. 		USN photo # 5576-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Aryeh Wetherhorn (USNR).
Text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Through 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. Naval Institute Press.
SS 168 201k A plan view of the modified conning tower of the Nautilus (SS-168), at Mare Island Navy Yard on 4 August 1943. Shipyard records indicate she was in overhaul at the yard from 25 May to 17 August 1943. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 126k Japanese MS America Maru was sunk by Nautilus (SS-168) on 6 March 1944. Photo courtesy of Tommy Trampp.
SS 168 735k Photo of Lt William S. Brown (ChC) holding services aboard an unknown submarine on 28 March 1944. (The Navy caption for the photo is also attached).
I found the following information on Lt Brown in the publication United States Navy Chaplains 1778-1945. BRCWN, William Stanley -PEB, Lakewood, Ohio, 1 January 1917; Fenn Coll, Cleveland, BA, 38; Kenyon CoIl, DivnSch, Gambier, Ohio, BD, 41; ord, Bp Tucker, 17 December 41; m, Fredreca P Young, 17 October 42; p, St PaUl's PE Ch, Toledo, 41 - 43. COtml, Lt(jg), ChC-V(I}J, USNR, 29 December 1942; CS, 3-43IV); MarBks, Pearl Harbor, 21 May 43 II October; SuB, Pearl Harbor, 11 October - 1 May 44; NTC, Bainbridge, 26 May - 10 January 45; USS PALAWAN, 22 April -Dec. COrml, Lt, 1 March 44. ReI, 8 February 46.
This information indicates that he was assigned to Submarine Base, Submarine (SuS) Pearl Harbor on 28 March 1944. The question is which submarine was he riding??? How about Nautilus (SS-168)???.		 Official USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 874k Nautilus (SS-168) in drydock January 1946 before scrapping. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 80-G-701715 via Mike Green.
SS 168 917k The Fifteen Year old Nautilus (SS-168), at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with an impressive war record, has been retired. During her career, she took a heavy toll on Japanese shipping. All fourteen of her patrols were considered successful, a record few submarines could boast of. The crew lines up on her quarterdeck to receive Captain M. Mathewson, Commanding Officer of the Navy Yard, 26 January 1946. Photograph # 80-G-701713, now in the collections of the National Archives, courtesy of National Museum of the U.S. Navy via flickr.com.
Fremantle 365k This plaque was unveiled 20 March 1995 by His Excellency Major General P.M. Jeffery OA MC, Governor of Western Australia to commemorate the sacrifices made by Allied submarines that operated out of Fremantle, Western Australia during WW II. Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
View the V-6 (SC-2) / Nautilus (SS-168)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
PigBoats.COM TM, A Historic Look at Submarines.
Carlson's Raiders
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