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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.
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SizeImage DescriptionSource
SS-11103kLaunching 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.
Cuttlefish 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.
Cuttlefish
0801100
825kLaunch of the Cuttlefish (SS-11). Photo courtesy of digitalcommonwealth
Cuttlefish 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.
Cuttlefish 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.
SS-1176k Cuttlefish (SS-11) underway, circa 1907. Photographed by the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut. USNHC photograph # NH 55541.
SS-1192k Cuttlefish (SS-11) off Newport, Rhode Island, circa 1907. USNHC photograph # NH 55540.
B Class103kThe 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.
Cuttlefish 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.
B Class221kThe 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.
SS-11102k Cuttlefish (SS-11) in port, circa 1907-1911. USNHC photograph # NH 37.
SS-11101k Cuttlefish (SS-11) in port with crew members on deck, circa 1907-1911. USNHC photograph # NH 36.
SS-11541k 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
B-3470k 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.
SS-11408kB-2 (SS-11) in drydock.USN photo thanks to Jim Kurrasch @ Battleship Iowa, Pacific Battleship Center.
SS-1185kThe Cuttlefish (SS-11), probably in dry dock at the New York Navy Yard, 25 January 1908.Courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Viper NR SUBMARINES FOR THE PACIFICImage 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.
B-1NRU. 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.
B-2
0801004
721kCuttlefish (SS-11), Tarantula (SS-12), and Viper (SS-10) in port, circa 1909. Photo courtesy of history.navy.mil
SS-11122k Cuttlefish (SS-11) participating in a naval review in New York Harbor, circa 1910. USNHC photograph # NH 76492.
SS-10117kAll 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.
B-21.48kHARD 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.
B-2
0801119
525kB-2 in Manila Bay, probably between 1914 and 1919.Photo courtesy of David Wright.
Text i.d. via Dave Johnston.
SS-1182kAjax (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.
Ajax97kB-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)
SS-1180kB-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.
Philippines 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
SS-1172kCavite 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.
SS-10 & 1167k 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.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Not Applicable to this Vessel
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
PigBoats.COM TM, a Historic Look at Submarines

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