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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

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

Radio Call Sign: November - India - Charlie - Xray

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons


Presidential Unit Citation
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Fitting Out / Commissioning
Pre War 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; 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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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. US Navy 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. US Navy 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. US Navy 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 on 10 May 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 Aug 1927. US Navy 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 Aug 1927 11:52 AM. US Navy 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 Aug 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 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. US Navy 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. US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 175k Mare Island, Cal 8 Sept 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 L. Baker.
SS 168154k 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 L. Baker.
SS 168292k 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 L. Baker.
SS 168 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 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.US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Nautilus 323kWorkmen warily walk the rails as work winds a welcoming restraint awhile where the V-6 (N-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. US Navy 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. US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 157k V-6 (SC-2) is on the ways on launch day 15 March 1930 at Mare Island Navy Yard. US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
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. US Navy photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Photo added 05/05/12.
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. US Navy 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. U.S. Navy photo # 4545-1-3-30 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum and submitted by Darryl L. Baker.
SS 168 2.0m The Nautilus (SS-168) is half way down the ways at her launching at Mare Island on 15 March 1930. US Navy 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. US Navy 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. US Navy 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 145k Nautilus (SS-168) launched at Mare Island on 15 March 1930. US Navy photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Photo added 05/05/12.
SS 168 109k V-6 (SC-2) is waterborne after its launching at Mare Island Navy Yard on 15 March 1930.
US Navy 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.
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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