.gif)
USS Porpoise (SS-172)
Encyclopedia
USS Porpoise (SS–172), the fifth United States Navy
ship to bear her name, was the lead ship
of her class
of submarines.
She was laid down at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
, Kittery, Maine
on 27 October 1933; launched on 20 June 1935, sponsored by Miss Eva Croft; and commissioned on 15 August 1935, Lieutenant Commander
Stuart S. Murray
in command.
and joined the Pacific Fleet
at San Diego on 1 September 1936. After gunnery and torpedo practice off the west coast of the United States, she participated in Fleet Problem XVIII in the Hawaiian area, April–May 1937, and toward the end of the year underwent extensive overhaul at Mare Island Navy Yard. In January 1938, she returned to Pearl Harbor
for fleet exercises, and on 19 November 1939 got underway for Manila
to join the Asiatic Fleet. From December 1939-December 1941, she was engaged in various exercises with Submarines, Asiatic Fleet.
on 7 December 1941, Porpoise - commanded by Joseph A. Callaghan - was at Olongapo, P.I., undergoing a refit. With all four main engines being overhauled and her entire after battery out, the required work was accomplished in record time. She moved to Manila on 20 December, and two days later was underway on her first war patrol - from 22 December 1941–31 January 1942 - in Lingayen Gulf
and the South China Sea
off French Indochina
. Retiring by way of Balikpapan
, Borneo
, where the Dutch were demolshing their oil wells, Porpoise attacked two ships without result before ending her patrol at Surabaya
, Java.
Conducting her second war patrol in the Netherlands East Indies - from 9 February–30 March - she scored on a cargo ship before anchoring at Fremantle, Western Australia
. Then, with the ultimate destination of Pearl Harbor, she returned to the Netherlands East Indies for her third war patrol - from 26 April–17 June. She made one unsuccessful attack on a cargo ship and rescued five airmen off the enemy held island of Ju before heading out across the Pacific.
After a major overhaul at Mare Island, Porpoise departed Pearl Harbor for her fourth war patrol - from 30 November 1942–15 January 1943 - off the coast of Honshū
, Japan. On 1 January 1943, she sank Renzan Maru, then set course for Midway
where she completed the patrol. Her fifth war patrol - from 6 February–15 April - off Jaluit Atoll
, was highlighted by the sinking of Koa Maru on 4 April., and by an unsucessful attack on the unarmed Japanese hospital ship
, Takasago Maru on 8 April.
After refit at Pearl Harbor, Porpoise sailed on her sixth patrol - from 20 June–28 July - performing reconnaissance of Taroa Island and in the Marshall Islands
. Scoring hits on two cargo ships early in her patrol, she then sank Mikage Maru No. 20 on 19 July before returning to Pearl Harbor.
Due to leaky fuel oil tanks Porpoise departed Pearl Harbor for New London, Connecticut
, where she was to be used as a training vessel. She arrived in September 1943, and interrupted only for overhaul at Philadelphia from May–June 1944, she served on this duty until inactivated. She decommissioned on 15 November 1945 at Boston
, and remained in reserve until 8 May 1947, when she was placed in service and assigned to the 8th Naval District. For the next nine years she trained Naval Reservists in the Houston, area. Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register
on 13 August 1956, she was sold for scrap to Southern Scrap Material Co., Ltd., New Orleans, on 14 May 1957.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
ship to bear her name, was the lead ship
Lead ship
The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:...
of her class
United States Porpoise class submarine
The Porpoise class were submarines built for the United States Navy in the late 1930s, and incorporated a number of modern features that would make them the basis for subsequent classes such as the Salmon, Tambor, Gato, Balao, and Tench classes...
of submarines.
She was laid down at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard , often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships...
, Kittery, Maine
Kittery, Maine
Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,543 at the 2000 census. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals...
on 27 October 1933; launched on 20 June 1935, sponsored by Miss Eva Croft; and commissioned on 15 August 1935, Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Stuart S. Murray
Stuart S. Murray
Stuart Shadrick Murray was a Vice Admiral of the United States Navy who served during World War II. Born in Delia, Texas he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1919...
in command.
Inter-War Period
After shakedown, Porpoise transited the Panama CanalPanama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
and joined the Pacific Fleet
Pacific Fleet
A number of countries currently have or previously had an Pacific Fleet in their navies.*United States Pacific Fleet*Pacific Fleet *Pacific Naval Force *British Pacific Fleet...
at San Diego on 1 September 1936. After gunnery and torpedo practice off the west coast of the United States, she participated in Fleet Problem XVIII in the Hawaiian area, April–May 1937, and toward the end of the year underwent extensive overhaul at Mare Island Navy Yard. In January 1938, she returned to Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
for fleet exercises, and on 19 November 1939 got underway for Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
to join the Asiatic Fleet. From December 1939-December 1941, she was engaged in various exercises with Submarines, Asiatic Fleet.
World War II
At the outbreak of the war with JapanPacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
on 7 December 1941, Porpoise - commanded by Joseph A. Callaghan - was at Olongapo, P.I., undergoing a refit. With all four main engines being overhauled and her entire after battery out, the required work was accomplished in record time. She moved to Manila on 20 December, and two days later was underway on her first war patrol - from 22 December 1941–31 January 1942 - in Lingayen Gulf
Lingayen Gulf
The Lingayen Gulf is an extension of the South China Sea on Luzon in the Philippines stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central...
and the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
off French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
. Retiring by way of Balikpapan
Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city on the eastern coast of the island of Borneo, Indonesia, in the East Kalimantan province, a resource-rich region well known for its timber, mining, and petroleum export products. Two harbors, Semayang and Kariangau , and the Sepinggan International Airport are the main...
, Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, where the Dutch were demolshing their oil wells, Porpoise attacked two ships without result before ending her patrol at Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
, Java.
Conducting her second war patrol in the Netherlands East Indies - from 9 February–30 March - she scored on a cargo ship before anchoring at Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
. Then, with the ultimate destination of Pearl Harbor, she returned to the Netherlands East Indies for her third war patrol - from 26 April–17 June. She made one unsuccessful attack on a cargo ship and rescued five airmen off the enemy held island of Ju before heading out across the Pacific.
After a major overhaul at Mare Island, Porpoise departed Pearl Harbor for her fourth war patrol - from 30 November 1942–15 January 1943 - off the coast of Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
, Japan. On 1 January 1943, she sank Renzan Maru, then set course for Midway
Midway Atoll
Midway Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, near the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago, about one-third of the way between Honolulu, Hawaii, and Tokyo, Japan. Unique among the Hawaiian islands, Midway observes UTC-11 , eleven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time and one hour...
where she completed the patrol. Her fifth war patrol - from 6 February–15 April - off Jaluit Atoll
Jaluit Atoll
Jaluit Atoll is a large coral atoll of 91 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is only , but it encloses a lagoon with an area of . Most of the land area is on largest islet of Jaluit . Jaluit is located...
, was highlighted by the sinking of Koa Maru on 4 April., and by an unsucessful attack on the unarmed Japanese hospital ship
Hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
, Takasago Maru on 8 April.
After refit at Pearl Harbor, Porpoise sailed on her sixth patrol - from 20 June–28 July - performing reconnaissance of Taroa Island and in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
. Scoring hits on two cargo ships early in her patrol, she then sank Mikage Maru No. 20 on 19 July before returning to Pearl Harbor.
Due to leaky fuel oil tanks Porpoise departed Pearl Harbor for New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, where she was to be used as a training vessel. She arrived in September 1943, and interrupted only for overhaul at Philadelphia from May–June 1944, she served on this duty until inactivated. She decommissioned on 15 November 1945 at Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, and remained in reserve until 8 May 1947, when she was placed in service and assigned to the 8th Naval District. For the next nine years she trained Naval Reservists in the Houston, area. Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 13 August 1956, she was sold for scrap to Southern Scrap Material Co., Ltd., New Orleans, on 14 May 1957.