USS Pampanito facts for kids
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USS Pampanito, with SS Jeremiah O'Brien moored astern
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| History | |
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 United States |
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| Builder | Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine |
| Laid down | 15 March 1943 |
| Launched | 12 July 1943 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. James Wolfender |
| Commissioned | 6 November 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 15 December 1945 |
| Reclassified | AGSS-383, 6 November 1962 |
| Stricken | 20 December 1971 |
| Status | Museum ship in San Francisco since 21 November 1975 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Balao-class diesel-electric submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 311 ft 6 in (94.95 m) |
| Beam | 27 ft 3 in (8.31 m) |
| Draft | 16 ft 10 in (5.13 m) maximum |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km; 13,000 mi) surfaced at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Endurance |
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| Test depth | 400 ft (120 m) |
| Complement | 10 officers, 70–71 enlisted |
| Armament |
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USS Pampanito
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fisherman's Wharf-Pier 45, San Francisco |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000089 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 14 January 1986 |
| Designated NHL | 14 January 1986 |
The USS Pampanito (SS-383) is a famous United States Navy submarine. It is named after the pompano fish. This submarine was very active during World War II.
Pampanito completed six war patrols between 1944 and 1945. Later, it became a United States Naval Reserve training ship. Today, it is a National Historic Landmark and a museum ship. You can visit it at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, California.
Contents
Building and Launching the Pampanito
The Pampanito was built at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine. Its construction began on March 15, 1943.
The submarine was launched into the water on July 12, 1943. Mrs. James Wolfender was the sponsor for the ship. The Pampanito officially joined the Navy on November 6, 1943.
Pampanito in World War II
After training, Pampanito traveled through the Panama Canal. It arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on February 14, 1944.
First Patrol: March - May 1944
Pampanito began its first war patrol on March 15, 1944. It patrolled near Saipan and Guam. The submarine also helped with lifeguard duty near Yap.
During this patrol, it hit a destroyer with two torpedoes. The Pampanito itself was damaged by depth charges. After this, it returned to Midway Island and Pearl Harbor for repairs.
Second Patrol: June - July 1944
The second patrol for Pampanito was from June 3 to July 23, 1944. It operated near Kyūshū, Shikoku, and Honshū in Japan.
On June 23, a Japanese submarine fired torpedoes at Pampanito, but missed. Later, on July 6, Pampanito damaged a Japanese gunboat. It then headed back to Midway Island.
Third Patrol: August - September 1944
Pampanito's third patrol was a team effort with other submarines. They operated in the South China Sea. On September 12, it sank two Japanese ships: the Rakuyō Maru and the tanker Zuihō Maru.
The Rakuyō Maru was carrying many British and Australian prisoners of war (POWs). After the sinking, many POWs were left in the water. On September 15, Pampanito returned to the area.
The crew found men clinging to rafts and heard them shouting in English. Pampanito rescued 73 British and Australian survivors. Other submarines, including Sealion, Barb, and Queenfish, also helped with the rescue. Pampanito then took the survivors to Saipan before returning to Pearl Harbor.
Fourth Patrol: October - December 1944
The fourth patrol for Pampanito was from October 28 to December 30, 1944. It patrolled near Taiwan and the coast of southeastern China.
On November 19, it sank the cargo ship Shinko Maru Number One. It also damaged another ship. After this, Pampanito went to Fremantle for maintenance.
Fifth Patrol: January - February 1945
Pampanito's fifth patrol was in the Gulf of Siam. This patrol, from January 23 to February 12, 1945, was very successful.
It sank two more cargo ships: the Engen Maru on February 6 and the Eifuku Maru on February 8.
Sixth Patrol
After repairs at U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay, Pampanito returned to the Gulf of Siam for its sixth patrol. It operated with other submarines but found only one target. After this, it sailed back to Pearl Harbor.
After the War: 1945–1971
From Pearl Harbor, the Pampanito went to San Francisco for a major overhaul. With the war ending, it was ordered to stay in San Francisco. It was officially taken out of service on December 15, 1945.
The submarine remained in reserve until 1960. It then became a training ship for the Naval Reserve at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. It was used for training until December 20, 1971.
Pampanito earned six battle stars for its service in World War II.
A Museum Ship in San Francisco
On November 21, 1975, Pampanito became a memorial and museum in San Francisco. It was given to the Maritime Park Association on May 20, 1976. The museum officially opened to the public on March 15, 1982.
In 1986, Pampanito was recognized as a National Historic Landmark. It was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association owns and operates the Pampanito. It is docked at Pier 45 in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. Visitors can explore the submarine.
The USS PAMPANITO Amateur Radio Club uses the submarine's radio room. They operate on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Their call sign is NJ6VT, which was the submarine's call sign during World War II.
The Pampanito flies a broom from its mast. This means it had a "clean sweep" patrol. This means it successfully cleared the enemy from the seas. In total, it sank six Japanese ships and damaged four others.
The Pampanito still has some working parts. These include one torpedo tube, the periscope, engines, and even an ice-cream maker. The museum offers educational programs. Groups of children and adults can even sleep overnight in the submarine's bunk beds.
The ship was moved for maintenance in September 2016. It returned in November 2016 and is now open to the public. In May 2020, Pampanito and the Liberty ship SS Jeremiah O'Brien were almost damaged by a large fire. Luckily, local firefighters saved them.
Pampanito in Movies
The Pampanito played a starring role in the 1996 comedy film Down Periscope. It acted as the fictional USS Stingray (SS-161).
In the movie, Kelsey Grammer plays the submarine's commanding officer. The film shows the Pampanito moving under tow in San Francisco Bay. It even passed under the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time in fifty years for the movie.
Images for kids
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Masts and conning tower, with broom and tree, in March 2003
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Mark XIV torpedo displayed in front of USS Pampanito.
See also
In Spanish: USS Pampanito (SS-383) para niños
