USS Pampanito

The USS Pampanito is located at Pier 45 at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. The decommissioned ship now serves as a museum and memorial that is open to the public. The submarine performed six patrols in the Pacific Ocean during World War II and was responsible for sinking six Japanese ships. The Pampanito receives approximately 100,000 visitors to the museum on an annual basis. The Pampanito is in the midst of being restored to replicate its look as it was in 1945. The ship is owned and operated by the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association.

The ship was built at the Portsmouth naval shipyard in New Hampshire as part of the wartime production effort. In November of 1943 the Pampanito was commissioned to become a part of the US fleet. For the next year the ship spent its time doing training exercises and mock attacks before being deployed to active duty. Several books were written by historians and crew members recounting the dangerous war patrols. The tour of the museum gives visitors an up close look at every aspect of the ship as well as the ship's background and crew. Over the years it has appeared in movies and television shows such as the 1995 Kelsey Grammer movie Down Periscope.