USS Porpoise (SS-172)

The fifth Porpoise (SS-172) was laid down by the U.S. Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H. 27 October 1933; launched 20 June 1935; sponsored by Miss Eva Croft; and commissioned 15 August 1935, Lt. Comdr. S. S. Murray in command.

After shakedown, Porpoise transited the Panama Canal and joined the Pacific Fleet at San Diego 1 September 1936. After gunnery and torpedo practice off the West Coast, Porpoise participated in Fleet Problem No. 18 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 to December 1941, she was engaged in various exercises with Submarines, Asiatic Fleet.

At the outbreak of the war with Japan, 8 December 1941, Porpoise 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. The sub moved to Manila 20 December, and two days later was enroute, on her first war patrol (22 December-31 January 1942) in Lingayen Gulf and the South China Seaoff French Indo-China. Retiring by way of Balikpapan, where the Dutch were blasting their oil wells, Porpoise attacked two ships without result before ending her patrol at Surabaya, Java.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Porpoise V (SS-172)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.