USS O-2 keel laying on July 27, 1917 at Bremerton, Washington. One of 2 O class subs to be built by Governments yards, the other being the O-1 layed down at Portsmouth, NH. The other O Class were to be built by Electric Boat and Lake yards.

USS O-2 on launch day May 24, 1918 at Bremerton Naval Ship Yard. Notice that she is being launched without shafts or props and no stern planes or rudder. From the lighting in the photo it seems to be a late afternoon launch.

The submarine in frame on the right in the photo is the USS H-6, one of six "H" class submarines being assembled at the same time at the ship yard. These subs had been intended for the Russian Navy and had been built in Canada but the Russian Revolution halted the sale. The US Navy bought them and had them sent to Bremerton for assembly.

You can also see that it is a bit of a rainy day with a lot of the spectators using umbrellas. If you look at the water under the slipway you can see the rings from the rain hitting the water. The ropes that seem to attach the submarine to the cradle are really to prevent the blocking from floating away once the submarine is floating on its own. The cradle and blocking will be used for the next vessel needing them.

USS O-2 on launch day May 24, 1918 at Bremerton Naval Ship Yard. Notice that she is being launched without bow planes and some super structure plating missing. Also the torpedo tube bow cap is missing, it should be visible just behind the bunting on the top left. The bottom of the submarine is covered with chalk notations about construction and where to drill. Bisected by the second vertical brace is the Fessenden Oscillator used for underwater communication and identification. From the lighting in the photo it seems to be a late afternoon launch.

The submarines in frame on the left in the photo are the USS H-5 and H-6 with the workman on top, two of six "H" class submarines being assembled at the same time at the ship yard. These subs had been intended for the Russian Navy and had been built in Canada but the Russian Revolution halted the sale. The US Navy bought them and had them sent to Bremerton for assembly.

You can also see that it is a bit of a rainy day with a number of the spectators wearing raincoats. A rain slick can be seen on the planking under foot on the right. The ropes that seem to attach the submarine to the cradle are really to prevent the blocking from floating away once the submarine is floating on its own. The cradle and blocking will be used for the next vessel needing them.

USS O-2 down the ways on launch day May 24, 1918 at Bremerton Naval Ship Yard. Notice that she is being launched without bow planes and some super structure plating missing. Also the torpedo tube bow cap is missing. The submarines sponsor, Mrs Francis T. Chew, can be seen atop the launch platform in the top left of the photo. From the lighting in the photo it seems to be a late afternoon launch and the sun has finally broken through as evidenced by the shadows on the submarines hull. The ropes that seem to attach the submarine to the cradle are really to prevent the blocking from floating away once the submarine is floating on its own. The cradle and blocking will be used for the next vessel needing them.

USS O-2 in the water three days after her launching at Bremerton Naval Ship Yard. Here her fitting out has begun. The stern is to the left in the photo and bow to the right. Her stern is still light due her not having shafts, props or rudders or stern planes. Her bow is still missing the superstructure plating and bow cap. On the top of the hull can be seen her Main Induction piping to bring air to her diesel engines and to the left of the gangway plank and her bridge access trunk to the right of it.

USS O-2 in the water three days after her launching at Bremerton Naval Ship Yard. Here her fitting out has begun. The stern is to the left in the photo and bow to the right. Her stern is still light due her not having shafts, props or rudders or stern planes. Her bow is still missing the superstructure plating and bow cap. On the top of the hull can be seen her Main Induction piping to bring air to her diesel engines and to the left of the gangway plank and her bridge access trunk to the right of it. Workmen can be seen on her decks and on the dock.

USS O-2 in the water three days after her launching at Bremerton Naval Ship Yard. Here her fitting out has begun. The stern is to the left in the photo and bow to the right. On the top of the hull can be seen her Main Induction piping to bring air to her diesel engines and to the left of the gangway plank and her bridge access trunk to the right of it. Workmen can be seen on her decks and on the dock. At the waterline you can see her starboard rubbing strake placed at the widest part of her hull. It is placed there to protect the hull from damage from rubbing against docks or other vessels. When the sub is fully fitted out this strake would normally be many feet under water.

USS O-2 SS 63 diving The USS O-2 was used in the design by William C. Eddy, then a cadet, for the crest for the Naval Academy class of 1926.
Capt. Eddy's story: Here

USS O-2 SS 63 diving The USS O-2 was used in the design by William C. Eddy, then a cadet, for the crest for the Naval Academy class of 1926.
Capt. Eddy's story: Here

USS O-2 SS 63 diving The USS O-2 was used in the design by William C. Eddy, then a cadet, for the crest for the Naval Academy class of 1926. Capt. Eddy's story: Here

USS O-2 SS 63 on the surface after diving.

This live action shot of an "O" boat surfacing could very well be the USS O-2 as seen in the previous sequence of publicity photos.

The submarine is seen rapidly coming to the surface. Water pouring from her bridge and flowing from the limber holes in the hull forward.

The submarines nomenclature pretty much identical to those seen in the previous photos so it seems logical to presume it is the same vessel.

The same for this image of an "O" boat running at speed on the surface. She appears to be close to a shore but there is little to try and identify the location. Time frame is likely the late 1930's.

Again, the nomenclature of the submarine seems to match that of the USS O-2 though that does not confirmed her the O-2.