Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

V-6 (SC-2)
Nautilus (SS-168)
Keel Laying - Commissioning

Radio Call Sign: November - India - Charlie - Xray

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons

Presidential Unit Citation

To Additional Pages

Active Service / 1931 - 1941
WW II Service

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; Redesignated (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.

Size	Image Description	Source
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., December 1, 1926.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
186k	V-6(SC-2) on the building ways at Mare Island, Cal. Looking southwest from boatswain's office. April 14, 1927.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
141k	General View Mold Loft - Bldg. 390. Mare Island, Cal; April 14, 1927. The place were the lines of the V-6 (SC-2) were laid down.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
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 on 10 May 1927.	Photo courtesy of Candi L. Barr (Parker) grand daughter of Bert A. Barr, Quarterman Shipfitter & submitted by Darryl Baker.
206k	Amidship section of flat and vertical keel plates assembled ready for keel laying of V-6 (SC-2), Mare Island, Calif. Aug 2, 1927.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
204k	Driving first official rivet on ways for the V-6 (SC-2) at Mare Island, Calif. Aug 2, 1927 11:52 AM.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
200k	Keel laying commandant, officers and riveting gang, Mare Island, Calif.; while working on the V-6 (SC-2), Aug 2, 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.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
145k	Main engine room forward starboard corner on the V-6 (SC-2) under construction at Mare Island Navy Yard on July 7, 1927.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
159k	After torpedo room looking forward on the V-6 (SC-2) under construction at Mare Island Navy Yard on July 7, 1927.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
175k	Mare Island, Cal Sept 8, 1928. General view from crane track aft showing stern of the V-6 (SC-2), erected aft to frame.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
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 Aug 2, 1929.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
157k	V-6 (SC-2) is on the ways on launch day Aug 2, 1929 at Mare Island Navy Yard.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
215k	The crowd gathers to watch the launching of the V-6 (SC-2) at Mare Island Navy Yard on Aug 2, 1929. A Movietone trucks appears in the lower right corner of the picture.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
109k	V-6 (SC-2) is waterborne after its launching at Mare Island Navy Yard on Aug 2, 1929.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
154k	V-6 (SC-2) is seen of the building ways at Mare Island between 6 Nov 1929 and 30 Dec 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.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
292k	V-6 (SC-2) is seen of the building ways at Mare Island between 6 Nov 1929 and 30 Dec 1929 looking aft.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
301k	V-6 (SC-2) is seen of the building ways at Mare Island between 6 Nov 1929 and 30 Dec 1929 looking aft.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
177k	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.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
122k	Bow 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.	US Navy photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl Baker. Photo added 15/01/07.
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.V-6 was renamed Nautilus (SS-168) in 1931.	Courtesy of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 1970.U.S. National Archives # 70676.
21k	Commemorative postal cover marking the V-6's (SC-2), commissioning, 1 July 1930.	Curtesy of Jack Treutle.
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 Oct 15 1930; *S-22* in overhaul from April 6 to July 29 1930; and *Aaron Ward* in overhaul from May 31 to Aug 8 1930.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
125k	V-6 (SC-2) is departing Mare Island Navy Yard in October 1930. The Chicago (CA-29) is seen in the distance.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
139k	Bow 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.	US Navy photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl Baker. Photo added 15/01/07.
213k	Stern view of V-6 (SC-2) leaving dry dock #2 at Mare Island on 7 October 1930.	US Navy photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl Baker. Photo added 15/01/07.
148k	Bow view of V-6 (SC-2) departing Mare Island on 8 October 1930.	US Navy photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl Baker. Photo added 15/01/07.
295k	Bow view of V-6 (SC-2) in San Pablo Bay west of Mare Island on 8 October 1930.	US Navy photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl Baker. Photo added 15/01/07.
172k	Decks are awash as V-6 (SC-2) starts a trim dive in San Pablo Bay in San Pablo Bay on 8 October 1930.	US Navy photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl Baker. Photo added 15/01/07.
102k	Only top of fair water is visible as V-6 (SC-2) starts a trim dive in San Pablo Bay on 8 October 1930.	US Navy photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl Baker. Photo added 15/01/07.
104k	At periscope depth on a trim dive of V-6 (SC-2) in San Pablo Bay on 8 October 1930.	US Navy photo from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl Baker. Photo added 15/01/07.
275k	V-6 (SC-2), is seen off Mare Island Navy Yard circa 1930. The city of Vallejo, Calif. is in the background.	US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.