USS Pampanito

Specialties

USS Pampanito (SS-​383) is a World War II Balao class Fleet submarine museum and memorial that is open for visitors daily at San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. Pampanito made six patrols in the Pacific during World War II during which she sank six Japanese ships and damaged four others. Operated by the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association, Pampanito hosts approximately 110,000 visitors a year and is one of the most popular historic vessels in the country. In addition to day time visitors, over 15,000 kids a year participate in Pampanito’s educational day and overnight programs. Pampanito is a National Historic Landmark.

History

Established in 1954.

More than 110,000 people visit USS Pampanito annually, making her one of the most popular historical naval vessels in the country. Considered one of the world’s finest examples of maritime preservation, this submarine has been designated a National Historic Landmark. USS Pampanito also hosts more than 8,000 children and adults for daytime and overnight education programs each year. The Association originally acquired USS Pampanito in 1976, undertook her restoration, and opened the vessel to the public in 1982. Since then, the Association has continued its restoration and interpretation work, with the goal of returning USS Pampanito to a condition representing a specific point in time-​late summer 1945. To date, almost all of the sub’s missing items have now been replaced, and much of the equipment on board has been restored to operation. Pampanito is the only World War II submarine open to the public on the West Coast, and represents an invaluable link to that era of our nation’s histor