USS PAMPANITO (submarine)
Also known as: Ss 383
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Why it's listed
Berthed at Pier 45 on San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, USS Pampanito is a Balao-class fleet submarine built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire and commissioned in November 1943. She is 312 feet long, powered by four diesel engines, and carried ten torpedo tubes and a crew of 75. Unlike most wartime submarines, she avoided the postwar guppy conversion and keeps her original design and fittings, and she is now a museum ship in excellent condition. Her importance lies in what she represents: the American submarine campaign that cut off Japan's oil, ore and food. Pampanito completed six war patrols, earned six battle stars, and is credited with sinking five enemy ships totaling 27,288 tons. On one patrol she helped rescue 73 Australian and British prisoners of war from Japanese transports that had been sunk. She was also serviced and decommissioned at Mare Island in 1945.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents Pampanito as representative of the U.S. submarine force that blockaded Japan in World War II. She made six war patrols, is credited with sinking five ships (27,288 tons), and took part in rescuing 73 Allied POWs. She was serviced at Mare Island and retains her wartime integrity, having escaped postwar modernization.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86000089, listed January 14, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Fisherman's Wharf-Pier 45, San Francisco |
|---|---|
| County | San Francisco |
| Listed | January 14, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000089 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1943-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Portsmouth Naval Shipyard |
| Architectural style | Balao-class fleet type submarine |
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated January 14, 1986 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition, unaltered, and open to the public as a museum ship at Pier 45. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Port of San Francisco Embarcadero Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.80998, -122.41643 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86000089.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2548504
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.