This photo shows the USS Grayling underway during the maneuvers above. The location and date are unknown. Lack of any background makes this nearly impossible. Though a few guess are possible based on the few facts we do have. She was commissioned on November 23, 1909. She is wearing the name “Grayling” which means the date is prior to November 17, 1911 when the submarines name was changed to conform with the Navy’s new alphanumeric naming structure for submarines.

USS Grayling showing her raised metal letters proclaiming her name. She was officially renamed the USS D-2 on November 17, 1911. A stout towing cable lays partly off the deck above the name. All submarines carried these cables at this time due to the fickle nature of their engines. As the technology matured the need for these cables slowly went away.

Two men stand on the bow of the Grayling. One holds a semaphore flag that he has been using to communicate with another vessel. The man at the left has binoculars and is looking at the sending vessel reading the message being relayed by that vessel. The men are probably Quartermasters, (Navigation Department), or Electricians, (Radiomen), trained in the duties of a Signalman. Unlike larger ships submarines had crew that performed multiple duties.

An Allied Signal Bell can be seen between the two men. It was used to send messages while submerged.

The Graylings' conning tower fairwater is shown here displaying the 3 over 1 symbols showing she was attached to the Third Submarine Division and the the Flagship with the number "1" meaning was her placement or ranking in the Division.

Three crew are seen relaxing on deck. One man at the right sits in the shade on the port side of the fairwater. Another sits looking directly at the camera while at the left a crewman lays on his stomach apparently trying to take a nap. As anyone who has been the military knows, you sleep when you can.

On the bridge at the top of the fairwater is a platform made with a pipe frame and surrounded by a weather canvas to protect the crew, In this picture there are a number of men shown.

The man at the left is a lookout and has binoculars in his hands, The man in the middle is the helmsman and is steering the submarine from a detachable wheel on a hub on the back of the periscope shears. Another lookout is on the right. Barely seen to the left of the helmsman and the left of the right lookout are two more men, one of who must be an officer. The OOD or Officer Of the Deck.

This photo is the same as the one above but shows the entirety of the submarines periscopes. These are fixed 'scopes meaning they neither raise or lower but do rotate. They are positioned so both can be used at th same time and not interfere with the view of the other.

Between them is the ship's air operated whistle. At the top of the #2 periscope is the Submarine Division Three Pennant meaning she is the SUBDIV3 flagship. Normally this is where the submarines commissioning pennant would be flown from.

Also attached to the #2 periscope, since it neither raises or lowers, is a small yardarm with signal hoists for signal flag to be flown from. Heavy stays can be seen fore and aft holding the periscopes rigid and preventing the barrels from warping destroying the optics.

One man stands on the after deck of the Grayling. To his right are two deck hatches leading into the submarine. The right most leads down into the after battery space forward of the Engineroom bulkhead. The one next to him leads down into the Engineroom itself and allowing air to reach the engines with out having to have the watertight door between the compartments open and keep the noise level down inside the forward compartments.

Photo of a crewman on the USS D-2, circa 1912. The numbers 2 over 4 are a squadron designation not the hull numbers. We have other photographic evidence from this time of the D-2 with these numbers. The D-2 at one point in her career was stationed out of Key West, Florida, home of the 2nd Submarine Squadron. The number 4 is her position with-in the squadron.

Resting on top of the bridge fairwater is the topside helm wheel and the submerged submarine flag. The flag is rigid so it can be seen when attached to the top of the highest periscope. This was so the submarines wouldn't be run down while making practice dives and exercises. Forward is the stub, with locking keys, of a ventilator and another vent cowl is seen aft of the first one.

The bulge on the side of the periscope sheers is probably a support bearing for the forward periscope.

Close-up of the crewman and the numbers 2 over 4. These are a squadron designation not the hull numbers. The D-2 at one point in her career was stationed out of Key West, Florida, home of the 2nd Submarine Squadron. There are other photos of the D-2 with a 2 over 3. For one reason or another she shifted her position in the squadron. There are also photos of her in Submarine Squadron 3 with a 3 over 2 attached to her fairwater.

If you look closely at the numeral 4 you can see some old screw or bolt holes where it looks like the number 3 had been attached, showing her position shift with-in the squadron.

USS D-2 running a long the New England coast circa 1912 to 1915. This is possibly Cape Cod in the background as there are no trees to be seen which leads to this opinion.

Originally christened “Grayling” her name was changed on November 17, 1911 to D-2.

Another interesting fact about this vessel was she was commissioned with a commanding officer who was a “Mustang”. Owen Hill was an Irish immigrant who joined the US Navy as an enlisted man and worked his way up through the Navy ranks. He was a Chief Gunner (Warrant Officer) in 1900 and in the first crew of the first US Navy Submarine, USS Holland. He later achieved a full commission as an Line Officer in the Navy. That was a number of years before this photo was taken. He retired as a Lt. Commander.

D-2 diffidently has a large bell on for speed for her class in this photo. The D boats had a top surface speed of 10 to 11 knots. Despite this the image is dramatic with bone in her teeth and white water flowing from her limber holes. Still, these boats could have their problems, note the towing shackle in her bow.

There are nine men topside one of who seems a bit out of place to the others. (second from right) It is suspected he might be a rider. His uniform doesn’t look right. The men highest on the conning tower have their arms wrapped around the #1 and #2 periscopes to hold on. In this seaway the submarine is probably rolling to a large degree.

There are nine men topside one of who seems a bit out of place to the others. (second from right) It is suspected he might be a rider. His uniform doesn’t look right. The men highest on the conning tower have their arms wrapped around the #1 and #2 periscopes to hold on. In this seaway the submarine is probably rolling to a large degree.

The out of place person might be someone like Commodore Arthur Curtiss James of the New York City Yacht Club who was known to have struck up many friendships with numerous officers of submarines under construction at the Fore River Shipyard where his Bark rigged Auxiliary Yacht, Aloha was built. Owen Hill being one of them. Then again this may be someone entirely different. As was pointed out by Submarine Historian David Johnston: "...I really do think that the mystery [man] is a yacht club commodore and was just being given a courtesy joy ride. [A lot] of the commissioned officers in the Navy at that time came from Blue Blood families and a connection to a yacht club by the CO is a very real possibility."

The D-2 was originally in Squadron 3 but by the time this photo was taken she had been transferred to Squadron 2 and wears the Squadron numbers 2 over 3. That means she was the 3rd vessel in Squadron 2. At another points in her life she was 3 over 1 and 2 over 4. This confusing system was to finally go away after hull numbers were issued to all navy ships in 1920’s.

In the background a two masted schooner can be seen behind the D-2’s aft flag staff. The schooner is either raising or lowering her mainsail. She is hull down behind a sea swell.