USS Dolphin

The USS Dolphin is a historic U.S. Navy submarine that now serves as a museum ship in San Diego Bay and is operated by the San Diego Maritime Museum. Originally designed as a diesel-electric deep-sea research and development vessel, she was commissioned in 1968 and served until 2007. With 38 years of active service, she long held the record for the longest service life of any U.S. Navy submarine. As the Navy's last conventionally powered submarine, she was a key test platform for a wide range of experiments. Her most distinctive feature is her pressure hull, built as a cylindrical tube with hemispherical ends and no internal bulkheads, which made structural experiments possible.

During her years of active duty, the Dolphin served as a mobile laboratory for deep-sea acoustic research, weapons testing, and the development of new sensors. She set numerous world records, including the deepest dive by a submarine, at more than 900 meters (about 3,000 feet), and the first successful optical data exchange between a submarine and an aircraft. The vessel was designed to carry up to twelve tons of specialized equipment, both inside and outside the hull. One dramatic episode in her history was a serious flooding and fire in 2002, when engineer John D. Wise's courageous actions in the flooded engine room kept the boat from sinking before the crew was finally evacuated.

After an extensive and costly overhaul, the Dolphin was decommissioned in 2007 and officially transferred to the museum in 2008. Since opening to the public in 2009, she has welcomed visitors aboard to explore the interior of the submarine. The exhibit offers insight into the technical complexity of the vessel and her role in maritime research. You can experience the cramped atmosphere of the quarters and learn about the historic missions and technological innovations that shaped this unique ship. She is an important part of the museum's floating collection and a testament to maritime engineering.