USS PAMPANITO SS-383
A visit to the USS Pampanito museum in San Francisco, California
By Martin J Quinn
This feature first appeared on Modelwarships.com in 2003
Operational History
The Balao-class submarine USS Pampanito was laid down by the Portsmouth (N.H.) Navy Yard on March 15, 1943, launched on July 12, 1943 and commissioned on November 6th of that same year.
After conduction her shakedown cruise in the waters off New London, CT, Pampanito sailed to Pearl Harbor, HI, arriving there on February 14, 1944. On March 15th she departed on her first war cruise, which was almost her last. She patrolled the waters south of Saipan and Guam, scoring a hit on a Japanese destroyer and surviving a depth charge attack that left her hull badly damaged, before returning to Pearl Harbor in early May.
Pampanito's next patrol took her into Japanese home waters during June and July, 1944. During this cruise, Pampanito's luck held out when two torpedoes fired by a Japanese submarine just missed her. After sinking a patrol boat, she headed for Midway. When she headed back to sea again in August, Pampanito was accompanied by the submarines USS Growler (SS-215) and USS Sealion (SS-315). The three operated as a "wolfpack" in the South China Sea, sinking several ships on September 12, 1944.
Two days later, Pampanito and Sealion came upon survivors of a sinking clinging to debris and makeshift rafts. Approaching the men in the water cautiously, the survivors turned out to be Australian and British POW's who's ship had been sunk enroute to Formosa. Pampanito took 73 men aboard, whom she put ashore at Saipan enroute to Pearl.
Again operating in a wolfpack, Pampanito's fourth war patrol found her off Formosa in the company of the USS SeaCat (SS-399), USS Pipefish (SS-388) and SeaRaven (SS-196) between October and December, 1944. During this patrol, SS-383 sunk one ship and damaged another. After putting into Fremantle, Australia for repairs, Pampanito headed out to the Gulf of Siam in January and February, 1945 for her fifth patrol, this time accompanied by the USS Guavina (SS-362). During this patrol, she bagged two more Japanese merchantmen.
Pampanito was refitted at Subic Bay in the newly liberated Phillipines before returning to the waters of the Gulf of Siam. She sighted only one target and returned to Pearl Harbor. From there, she was dispatched to San Francisco for an overhaul at the Hunters Point Navy Yard. Freshly overhauled, Pampanito arrived back at Pearl Harbor at wars end, and was ordered back to San Francisco.
On December 15, 1945, USS Pampanito was decommissioned at Mare Island, and put into reserve. Fifteen years later, she was reactivated and assigned to Mare Island's Naval Reserve training center. Re-classified as an auxiliary sub (AGSS-383) in November, 1962, she was modified for use in diving and surfacing simulations. Pampanito performed this role until December, 1971, when she was stricken from the Navy Register.
Around the same time Pampanito was stricken, the Maritime Park Association in San Francisco was looking for a World War II fleet submarine among the boats in reserve at Mare Island. Pampanito was chosen for the museum because she was in both good condition and largely unmodified, which was important since it was the associations goal to retro-fit her back late 1945 appearance.
On November 21, 1975, Pampanito was turned over to the Maritime Park Association for use as a memorial. She opened to the public in 1982. Pampanito earned 6 battle stars for her World War II service.
The Museum
The Pampanito is located on Pier 45 on the San Francisco waterfront, between Pier 39 and the world famous Fisherman's Wharf. I had been to San Francisco three times before, but had never made it over to the Pampanito until this trip.
Pampanito is moored along side Pier 45, with her starboard side closest to the pier, bow pointing towards the city. On the pier are items related to the submarine - a propeller, a torpedo and a replica of Pampanito's battle flag.
When you buy your ticket, you receive a small audio device. This is your guide to the submarine. Each compartment is numbered, with information stored on the audio guide. Press the corresponding number and you'll hear veterans tell what it was like to work or live in that compartment or on the submarine in general.
The tour begins in the aft torpedo room and makes it way forward from there. Unfortunately, the conning tower is off limits. Overall, the boat is in great shape and well maintained (When I got onboard, there was a crew working on the hull). I was really impressed with the museum...the audio tour really enhances the visit. If you are visiting Fisherman's Wharf, take the time to visit the Pampanito. It is one of the best naval museums that I've ever been to.
Interior Views
Exteriors Views
