USS Nautilus (SS-168)

USS Nautilus (SS-168) was a Narwhal-class submarine of the United States Navy that served with distinction during the Interwar period and World War II. Commissioned in 1930, she was one of the largest and most powerful submarines of her era, built at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Her wartime career included critical roles in the Doolittle Raid, the Battle of Midway, and numerous combat patrols across the Pacific Ocean, earning her 14 battle stars.

Construction and commissioning

The vessel was laid down on 2 August 1927 at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California. She was launched on 15 March 1930, sponsored by Miss Joan Keesling, and commissioned into the United States Navy on 1 July 1930 under the command of Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Doyle. As a member of the Narwhal-class submarine, she was distinguished by her large size, powerful Bureau of Engineering diesel engines, and heavy armament, which included two 6-inch deck guns. Her design reflected strategic thinking from the Washington Naval Treaty era, prioritizing long-range cruising and surface combat capabilities.

Service history

Following commissioning, Nautilus was assigned to Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, operating primarily from Pearl Harbor. During the 1930s, she participated in extensive fleet exercises, testing tactics and equipment that would prove vital in the coming conflict. These operations took her across the Central Pacific and included simulated attacks on major units like those from Battleship Row. Her pre-war service helped refine the doctrines of the United States Submarine Service and provided invaluable training for her crew under commanders like Lieutenant Commander William H. Brockman Jr..

World War II service

Nautilus was at sea during the attack on Pearl Harbor and immediately began combat patrols. In April 1942, she played a pivotal role in the Doolittle Raid by performing perilous reconnaissance of the intended launch area near the Japanese archipelago. The following June, during the pivotal Battle of Midway, she aggressively attacked the Imperial Japanese Navy fleet, firing torpedoes at the damaged aircraft carrier Kaga and later engaging the Japanese battleship Kirishima. Throughout the war, she conducted 14 war patrols, credited with sinking six Japanese vessels, including the destroyer Yamakaze and several merchant ships during campaigns in the Solomon Islands and off the Caroline Islands. Her service earned her 14 battle stars and a Navy Unit Commendation.

Disposal and legacy

Decommissioned on 30 June 1945 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, the submarine was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 25 July 1945. She was ultimately sunk as a target ship by U.S. naval forces on 25 November 1945, east of the Delaware Capes. The legacy of Nautilus is preserved in the historical records of the United States Submarine Service and her contributions to key events like the Doolittle Raid and the Battle of Midway. Her name was later carried by the revolutionary nuclear-powered submarine USS Nautilus (SSN-571), further cementing its place in naval history.

See also

* List of submarines of the United States Navy * Naval history of World War II * Attack on Pearl Harbor * United States Pacific Fleet

Category:World War II submarines of the United States Category:Narwhal-class submarines Category:Ships built in Vallejo, California