{"nrhp_refnum":"78002458","name":"USS BECUNA (SS-319)","other_names":["USS BECUNA,Penn's Landing"],"category":"structure","location":{"address":"Penn's Landing, Delaware Ave. & Spruce St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Philadelphia","county":"Philadelphia","state":"PA","lat":39.943569111000045,"lon":-75.14118949999994,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1978-08-29","is_nhl":true,"nhl_designated_date":"1986-01-14","areas_of_significance":["Military","Engineering"],"significance_levels":["national"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A World War II type fleet submarine, the USS Becuna (SS-319), now berthed at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where it serves as an educational resource and tourist attraction. It was built by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the submarine is significant for its World War II service, including five war patrols and a Presidential Citation, and for serving as submarine flagship of the Pacific Fleet under General Douglas MacArthur. Its 1951 conversion to a Guppy 1A configuration, with a snorkel air system and larger battery, is also cited, as is its continuous Navy service from 1944 to 1969. It is described as the last of its type exhibited.","narrative":"Built by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut, and commissioned in 1944, the USS Becuna is a World War II type fleet submarine measuring 309 feet long and 27 feet wide, displacing 1,526 tons. During the war it served as submarine flagship of the Pacific Fleet under General Douglas MacArthur and logged five war patrols, sinking thousands of tons of Japanese naval and merchant shipping. In 1951 it was converted to a Guppy 1A configuration, adding a German-type snorkel that allowed diesel operation underwater, a larger battery for longer endurance, and updated radar and fire control equipment. It served through the Korean and Vietnam Wars in the Atlantic and Mediterranean until 1969. Now berthed in Philadelphia, it is the last vessel of its type on public display, and is valued for its engineering and wartime record.","period_of_significance":"1900-","architect_builder":"US Navy","architectural_style":null,"criteria":[],"status_note":"No longer sees active duty; berthed at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia and serves as an educational resource and tourist attraction.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-haiku-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.1-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 17:11:29.870476-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_PA/78002458.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/78002458/9da9b5d62f-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/78002458/9da9b5d62f-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Unknown authorUnknown author","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Becuna;0831914.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Unknown authorUnknown author</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Becuna;0831914.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71997470","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Becuna","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1572469"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/pennsylvania/philadelphia/uss-becuna-ss-319-78002458/"}