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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)

V-7 (SF-10 / SC-3)
Dolphin (SS-169)

Radio Call Sign: November - India - Charlie - Zulu
Dolphin Class Submarine: Authorized as V-7 (SF-10), re-designated (SC-3), Laid down, as V-7 (SC-3), 14 June 1930, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.; Launched, 6 March 1932; Commissioned USS Dolphin (SS-169), 1 July 1932; Decommissioned, 12 October 1945, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, NH; Struck from the Naval Register, 24 October 1945; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 26 August 1946. Dolphin earned 2 battle stars for her service during World War II.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,560 t., Submerged: 2,215 t.; Length 319' 1"; Beam 27' 11"; Draft 13' 1"; Speed, surfaced 17 kts, submerged 8 kts; Depth Limit 250'; Complement 5 officers 52 enlisted; Armament, four 21" torpedo tubes forward, two 21" torpedo tubes aft, 18 torpedoes; one 4"/50 deck gun, four 30 cal. mgs.; Propulsion, diesel electric, Maschinfabrik - Augusburg- Nurnburg, New York Navy Yard diesel engines, hp 3500, Fuel Capacity, 103,018 gal., Electro Dynamic Electric Motor Co., electric motors, hp 1750, Battery Cells 240, twin propellers.
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For Full Size		Size Image Description Source
SS-169 54k Driving of first rivet in laying of keel of submarine V-7 (SC-3), later renamed Dolphin (SS-169) at the Portsmouth (New Hampshire) Naval Shipyard, 14 June 1930. USN photo courtesy of Milne Collection at the University of New Hampshire.
SS 169 236k Dolphin (SC-3) under construction at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery Maine on 5 June 1931. This view is in the forward torpedo room looking forward. The boat is in an early stage of construction and the torpedo tubes have not yet been installed. The Dolphin was built at a time when riveting was still the only real method of joining metal structures together. However, if you look closely in the lower left hand corner you will notice that where the circular frames meet the deck (actually the top of the forward trim tank) Portsmouth workers have welded those joints. This is one of the earliest examples of welding in submarine construction and prove that Portsmouth actually pioneered the use of welding on this boat (and possibly on the earlier Narwhal (SS-167), not the Electric Boat Company on the Cuttlefishl (SS-170) as is commonly thought.
I might add that most of the hull plating is still waiting to be installed. The light sources between the frames comes from outside the hull meaning the hull plates are not installed.		 Text courtesy of Dave Johnston & Ric Hedman.
BuShips 36677_2 via NARA College Park, courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
SS 169 137k Dolphin's (SS-169) LH GEN Engine," June 1931. Photo No. f128c211 from the Brooklyn Navy Yard Archive - courtesy National Archive and Records Administration, Northeast Region - NYC, Record Group 181 via flicker.com.
SS 169 304k Navy Yard, Portsmouth N.H,. Generator room from upper platform looking forward showing starboard generator engine, 6 July 1931. BuShips 36677 via NARA College Park, courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
SS 169 179k Dolphin's (SS-169) Main Engine LH," August 1931. Photo No. f128c230 from the Brooklyn Navy Yard Archive - courtesy National Archive and Records Administration, Northeast Region - NYC, Record Group 181 via flicker.com.
SS 169 220k Dolphin's (SS-169) Starboard Main Engine 6-A-20 7/8-R 1750 BHP AT 380 RPM, ready for shipment, August 1931. Photo No. f128c235 from the Brooklyn Navy Yard Archive - courtesy National Archive and Records Administration, Northeast Region - NYC, Record Group 181 via flicker.com.
169 NR Dolphin (SS-169) Launched at Portsmouth
SHIP IS SEVENTH OF NINE SUBMARINES AUTHORIZED IN 1916.
THE Dolphin was launched at Portsmounth, N. H., Navy Yard. The launching was sponsored by Mrs. Edward D. Toland of St. Paul’s School, Concord, N. H. 		Photo & text by Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 10 March 1932, Image 21, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
SS 165 283k The Dolphin (SS-169) stands on the launching ways on 6 March 1932. Photo courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection via Sean Hert & flickr.com.
SS 165 580k The Dolphin (SS-169) launching. Photo courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection via Sean Hert & flickr.com.
SS 169 163k Dolphin (SS-169) Officers seen here are from Left to Right:
Executive Officer, Lt Robert Eugene Blue; - Commanding Officer; Lt John B. Griggs Jr; - Lt.jg David E. Roth - Ensign J. B. Johnson.
The place the men are standing is sloped up to the right so that is why the photo looks strange. The cameraman "leveled" the picture to the deck.		 Photo In the Private Collection Of Ric Hedman.
SS 169 153k Dolphin's (SS-169) crew line the deck, possibly during her commissioning on 1 July 1932. USN photo courtesy of Megan Edwards.
SS 169 70k Most probably a Division photo of Dolphin's (SS-169) Machinist Mates. USN photo courtesy of Megan Edwards. Photo i.d. & text courtesy of Ric Hedman & Col. John Hart.
SS 169 310k Navy Yard, Portsmouth N.H,. View of forward torpedo room looking forward, 3 July 1932. BuShips 31679_2 via NARA College Park, courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
SS 169 165k Navy Yard, Portsmouth N.H,. View from dock showing starboard side of bridge structure, 9 July 1932. BuShips 31679 via NARA College Park, courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
SS 169 226k Navy Yard, Portsmouth N.H. Dolphin (SS-169) bow view, torpedo tubes closed, bow planes rigged, 30 September 1932. C&R 15227 via NARA College Park, courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
SS 169 392k Navy Yard, Portsmouth N.H. Looking down from the Dolphin's (SS-169) fairwater at before entering the Dry Dock, 30 September 1932. USN photo courtesy of Ed Zajkowski.
SS 169 265k Navy Yard, Portsmouth N.H. Port side view showing open torpedo tubes and diving planes housed while in Dry Dock, 30 September 1932. USN photo courtesy of Ed Zajkowski.
SS 169 313k Bow view while in Dry Dock at Navy Yard, Portsmouth N.H., 30 September 1932.
Dolphin (SS-169) sailed from Portsmouth 24 October 1932 for San Diego arriving 3 December to report to Submarine Division 12. She served on the west coast, taking part in tactical exercises and test torpedo firings until 4 March 1933 when she got underway for the east coast. 		Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
USN photo courtesy of Ed Zajkowski. Neg # 269/32.
SS 169 295k Navy Yard, Portsmouth N.H. Quarter view showing rigging while in Dry Dock, 30 September 1932. USN photo courtesy of Ed Zajkowski.
SS 169 301k Navy Yard, Portsmouth N.H. Stern view showing her two torpedo tubes while in Dry Dock, 30 September 1932. USN photo courtesy of Ed Zajkowski. Neg # 277/32.
SS 169 361k Navy Yard, Portsmouth N.H. Close up of the starboard side from floor of Dry Dock showing docking keel blocks, 30 September 1932. USN photo courtesy of Ed Zajkowski. Neg # 279/32.
SS 169 105k Dolphin (SS-169) appears to be in the Panama Canal.
She sailed from Portsmouth 24 October 1932 for San Diego arriving 3 December to report to Submarine Division 12. 		Patial text courtesy of DANFS.
USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 169 178k Bridge looking forward, Portsmouth Navy Yard, 4 July 1933. USN photo courtesy of Ed Zajkowski. Neg # 187/33.
SS 169 240k Bridge (in-closed) looking forward, Portsmouth Navy Yard, 4 July 1933.
An object in the background caught the eye of David Johnston It spurred a flurry of emails as he ran it by Ric Hedman and Jim Christley and they came up with the following conclusions:
The large circular object on top of Dolphin's bridge is most likely a watertight storage tub for large 4x35 non-folding prism mirror long spyglasses. Originally thought to be too large and clumsy to be quickly taken below in the advent of a crash dive, a watertight storage solution topside was sought and this is what the designers came up with. The Officer of the Deck and lookout(s) would quickly stash their spyglasses in this tub, shut and dog the lid, then proceed below upon the start of a dive. Rapid refinements in optical technology resulted in the introduction of smaller, lightweight 7x50 binoculars and the need for such a tub in this position on the bridge quickly faded. The only other boat to be seen with such a structure so far is Cuttlefish (SS-171) so it may have been one of those features that (as Jim Christley put it) "seemed like a good idea at the time", but was later shown to be unnecessary.
Other ideas for the tub included a brass watertight housing for a magnetic compass. This was suggested by Ric Hedman, based on his experience with a similar structure on a Russian submarine. However it was pointed out that the magnetic compass is located directly behind the helm wheel, evidenced by the flip lid on the vertical column where the compass rose would be read, and the presence of the two steel compensating spheres on either side of this column.
David Johnston (USN, retired) speculated that the tub might be storage for a blinker/searchlight, but this is unlikely due to the lack of this feature on any other boat except Cuttlefish.
Jim correctly pointed out that we may never know for sure what it is, unless some old salt can point to it and say, "Yep that thing is a..." 		Photo & text i.d. courtesy of Jim Christley, Ric Hedman & David Johnston
USN photo courtesy of Ed Zajkowski. Neg # 188/33.
SS 169 342k Conning tower, fairwater & bell of the Dolphin (SS-169) on 5 July 1933. She arrived at Portsmouth Navy Yard 23 March for final trials and acceptance, remaining there until 1 August. Partial text courtesy of DANFS. USN photo courtesy of Ed Zajkowski.
SS 169 304k View looking aft, Portsmouth Navy Yard, 5 July 1933. USN photo courtesy of Ed Zajkowski. Neg # 178/33.
SS 169 147k Color post card of pre war Dolphin (SS-169). Photo courtesy of Arnold Putnam.
SS 165 & 169 557k Bonita (SS-165) & Dolphin (SS-169) at Balboa, Panama Canal, 1934. Photo i.d. courtesy of David Johnston
Photo by ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Image, courtesy of gettyimages.com.
SS 169 91k Ice cold Dolphin (SS-169) alongside the Alaska coast on her voyage to the far North during July 1934.
She cruised on the west coast with occasional voyages to Pearl Harbor, Alaska, and the Canal Zone for exercises and fleet problems. 		USN photo courtesy of Megan Edwards.
Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
SS-169 56k Commemorative postal cover marking the Dolphin's (SS-169) Alaska cruise in July, 1934. Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
SS-169 113kHolland (AS-3) at anchor during the 1930s, with Barracuda (SS-163) tied up to her port side. Dolphin (SS-169) is partially visible, tied to Holland's starboard side. USNHC photo # NH 65018.
SS-169
0816905		 619kCirca 1936 photo of Bass (SS-164) & Dolphin (SS-169) in Seattle. Photos courtesy of Gary Mcintosh.
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).
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-169 23kCommemorative postal cover and photo inset showing the Dolphin (SS-169) on 16 October 1937 before Dolphin departed San Diego for her new home port, Pearl Harbor, on 1 December 1937. Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Text courtesy of DANFS.
SS 169 320k Tai Sing Loo trademark photo of a vessel entering Pearl Harbor passing a palm tree.
This photo might be on the occasion when Dolphin (SS-169) departed San Diego on 1 December 1937 for her new home port, Pearl Harbor, arriving a week later. 		USN photo by Tai Sing Loo, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
SS-171741kSUBMARINE D-1 with PAT O'BRIEN, GEORGE BRENT, WAYNE MORRIS stars the real life Dolphin (SS-169) on 11 January 1938.AP Wire photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
Insert photo & text by Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 01 January 1938, Page B-12, Image 26, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
SS-169 25k Commemorative postal cover marking the Dolphin's (SS-169) deep dive, 28 November 1939. Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
SS 169 127k Dolphin (SS-169), at the Underwater Sound School, Hawaii, circa 1940. USN photo courtesy of Megan Edwards.
SS 169 222k A surfaced Dolphin (SS-169),circa 1940. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
SS 169 228k In the late 1930's the Dolphin (SS-169) was painted overall gloss black. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
SS 169 247k Dark Dolphin (SS-169). USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Submarine Base,Pearl Harbor 144k Aerial view of the Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii, with part of the supply depot beyond and the fuel farm at right, looking north on 13 October 1941.
Note the fuel tank across the road from the submarine base, painted to resemble a building. The building beside the submarine ascent tower (in left center, shaped like an upside-down "U") housed the U.S. Fleet Headquarters at the time of the Japanese attack on 7 December 1941. Office of Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, the Fleet's Commander in Chief, was in the upper left corner of the building's top floor.
Wharton (AP-7) is in right foreground. Among the submarines at the base are Tuna (SS-203), Gudgeon (SS-211), Argonaut (SS-166), Narwhal (SS-167), Triton (SS-201) and Dolphin (SS-169). Holland (AS-3) and Niagara (PG-52) are alongside the wharf on the base's north side. In the distance (nearest group in upper left) are the battleship Nevada (BB-36), at far left, Castor (AKS-1) and the derelict old mine-layer Baltimore. Cruisers in top center are Minneapolis (CA-36), closest to camera, and Pensacola (CA-24), wearing a Measure 5 painted "bow wave".		 Official USN photo # 80-G-451125, now in the collections of the National Archives.
SS 167 53k Oil/alkyd on canvas by the artist John Meeks entitled "Pearl".
Just a few minutes after America's unexpected and violent entry World War II, this painting depicts the scene at the submarine base with Dolphin (SS-169) (to the left) and Narwhal (SS-167) acquitting themselves to the best of their abilities, and honorably, during the first wave of the attack.
In the background, a pall of smoke rises from the disaster that has befallen "Battleship Row" and the Navy Yard, and Japanese "Kate" torpedo bombers race in from the south to add to the mayhem.
A lone "Kate", its torpedo already spent, circles - perhaps to take photographs. As it crosses astern of the moored submarines, their hastily prepared anti-aircraft fire scores a hit and it sustains fatal damage. Credit for the 'kill' is shared by Narwhal, Tautog (SS-199) and a destroyer (- although in detailed battle reports, the skipper of Dolphin claims the victory...).		 Photo & text courtesy of subart.net.
Pearl Harbor106Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii view looking northward, with the Navy Yard industrial area in the foreground and the Marine Barracks in the lower right, 28 July 1942. Ford Island is at left, with Oklahoma (BB-37) and Arizona (BB-39) under salvage nearby. San Diego (CL-53) is in the upper center.
West Virginia (BB-48) is in Drydock Number One, in the lower left, and California (BB-44) is alongside the wharf at the extreme right. Cruisers alongside the pier in right center are Northampton (CA-26) (left) and Pensacola (CA-24). Submarines alongside 1010 Dock, just beyond Drydock # 1, are Trout (SS-202), Pollack (SS-180), Dolphin (SS-169) and Cachalot (SS-170). Note camouflage on many of the Navy Yard's buildings. 		Official USN photo # NH 84002, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of The Honorable James V. Forrestal.
SS 169112k Dolphin (SS-169), shown about 1943, is little modified from her peacetime appearance. She was then being used to train submariners at Pearl Harbor. After an inspection revealed considerable corrosion in her tanks, she was sent back to New London for less demanding work.
Torpedoes were stowed, as shown, in the external tubes abaft the bridge fairwater. Designated torpedo capacity was initially 18; in 1933, the General Board ordered that 3 more torpedoes be stowed externally, as shown, in a space originally planned for boat stowage.
Note the separate generator engine in the compartment forward of the engine room. 		Photo & text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Through 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. Naval Institute Press.
SS-169 109k Commemorative postal cover marking the Dolphin's (SS-169) 40th anniversary, June 1970. Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
View the Dolphin (SS-169)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway
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
USS Dolphin, Report of Pearl Harbor Attack
PigBoats.COM TM, A Historic Look at Submarines.
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