subject: USS Dolphin - A Submarine Designed by Submariners for Submariners [print this page] USS Dolphin - A Submarine Designed by Submariners for Submariners
The USS Dolphin (SS 169) started life as the V7 in 1932. Her claim to fame? The USS Dolphin was the "First" of the new "patrol" type fleet submarines for the United States Navy. Her design was borne out of the frustration of submarine commanders and engineers with large slow boats and small boats without a useful combat range.
Thesesubmarinerswere assigned to a recurring Naval conference called the Submarine Officers' Conference. Its impact produced the concept of a moderately sized submarine that was habitable, maneuverable, mechanically reliable and economically mass produced. This new patrol type submarine would operate independently of the battle fleet. It was designed to perform offensive operations and reconnaissance against an enemy fleet and enemy fleet support units.
Unlike the submarine designs of other nations at the time, the US focused on habitability for the crew. This focus paid dividends in the long run. With the insistence onincludingair conditioning in the design, crew members were less susceptible toirritability, headaches and heat stroke from prolonged high 100 degree plus temperatures while submerged. Machinery and electronics became more reliable in the reduced temperature and humidity. Air conditioning reduced the condensation on bulkheads and electrical systems preventing short circuits.
At 1700 tons surfaced and with the shark like bow design leading her 320 foot hull through the ocean swells, the USS Dolphin was able to maintain a respectable 17 knots surfaced. She was capable of nearly 9 knots submerged with an endurance of 10 hours at 5 knots on the batteries. By putting fuel instead of water in her main ballast tanks her range was extended to nearly 19,000 nautical miles.
Commander Charles Lockwood, after serving on the Conference as a commander's representative, became Chairman of the Conference in 1938. Needless to say his influence would pay off in the Pacific Theater of World War II, where the latest designs (Gato, Balao, and Tench) would serve side by side with the older classes. Indeed, USS Dolphin herself , participated in three war patrols, with her first sortie on Christmas Eve, 1941. She was at Midway during her second patrol patrolling just off the island during the pivotal Battle of Midway. After her third war patrol, reconnoitering off the Kurile Islands, she returned to Pearl Harbor and in 1944 was reassigned as a training submarine. The USS Dolphin and her gallant crew were awarded 2 Battle Stars for service in the war.
Oh, and remember Commander Lockwood? In early 1943 he became Commander, Submarines, Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC), in which capacity he served the rest of the war, being promoted to Vice Admiral in October 1943.
