Ash's Squirtle/History/Original series/Orange Islands

Squirtle was used more prominently in the Orange Island Gyms, first in competition against Cissy's in Fit to be Tide. Both Pokémon had to shoot cans with Water Gun, but when they hit the final can at the same time, the match resulted in a draw. Though it did not win, Ash still congratulated it on its admirable work.

In Naval Maneuvers, it joined Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and Ash in steering the ice sled down the mountain, resulting in a win for Ash. One of Squirtle's most notable battles and its only Gym Battle win was in Misty Meets Her Match. Earlier in the episode, it helped Pikachu and Bulbasaur destroy the targets, before coming out third against Rudy's. Its powerful Water Gun managed to match Squirtle's, and Rudy's music allowed Starmie to dance away from Squirtle's moves and then use Thunderbolt to knock Squirtle into submission. With encouragement from Misty, Squirtle propelled itself away from Thunderbolt and while using Withdraw learns Hydro Pump to become airborne and hit Starmie hard. Closing the battle with Skull Bash, Ash wins the battle and his third Orange Island Gym Badge.

In The Pokémon Water War!, Squirtle attempted to rescue a warehouse on fire, but when the fire spread, it needed rescuing itself by Captain Aidan and Team Wartortle. This shot Squirtle's confidence as a firefighter and Ash pleaded with Aidan to allow Squirtle to train with his team for a short period. However, they fell into a Team Rocket trap and were captured, but Squirtle's thinking allowed the group to escape: they flooded the cabin to allow mobility, and then tricked into cutting the nets, before blasting Team Rocket away. Squirtle then joins the effort at a burning apartment and halts the fire, saving the day.

In Hello, Pummelo!, Squirtle was sent against 's Onix, who managed to evade Water Gun with and then caught Squirtle with. However, Squirtle broke free with a Withdraw/Hydro Pump combination, then hit Onix with Skull Bash to knock it out. In the next episode, it fought, only for its Hydro Pump to be countered by Dragonite's Water Gun. Squirtle was able to use Withdraw in time to evade most of the following but was still badly hurt. Squirtle used Bubble Beam to hit Dragonite dead-on, but this was the only successful attack and it was beaten by a slam from Dragonite's tail. Pikachu went on to defeat the exhausted Dragonite and Squirtle earned a place in the Orange Islands Hall of Fame.