USS Pampanito

Anchored here at Pier 45, the USS Pampanito whispers tales of the Pacific, a steel ghost from World War II. The USS Pampanito isn’t just a ship; she’s a time capsule, a Balao-class submarine commissioned in 1943 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Imagine her sleek form slicing through the waves, a silent hunter in the vast ocean. Her six war patrols, from 1944 to 1945, earned her six battle stars. The USS Pampanito stalked the waters off Saipan, Guam, Formosa, the coast of China, and the Gulf of Siam, a vital part of the American submarine force that crippled Japan’s war effort. Her crew of 10 officers and 70-plus enlisted men lived and breathed within these steel walls, sharing cramped quarters, the ever-present smell of diesel, and the constant threat of depth charges. One such attack, during her first patrol, nearly sent the USS Pampanito to the bottom. But she survived, patched up and ready for another mission. On her second patrol, a near-miss by two torpedoes from a Japanese submarine reminded the crew of the constant dangers lurking beneath the surface. The USS Pampanito’s third patrol is perhaps her most famous. Part of a wolfpack with the USS Growler and USS Sealion, they attacked a Japanese convoy. Unbeknownst to them, this convoy carried over 2,000 Allied POWs. While the initial attack was successful, the ensuing tragedy unfolded when the POWs were abandoned in the water. The USS Pampanito returned, finding survivors clinging to rafts, shouting in English. They rescued 73 men and coordinated with other submarines to save more. The USS Pampanito went on to sink six Japanese ships and damage four others, totaling over 27,000 tons of enemy shipping. But her legacy extends beyond the statistics of war. The USS Pampanito stands as a testament to the bravery and resilience of the men who served aboard her. Today, she welcomes thousands of visitors each year, offering a glimpse into a pivotal moment in history. Walk her decks, explore her cramped compartments, and imagine the lives lived within these steel walls. The USS Pampanito, more than just a ship, is a living memory of World War II.