USS Plunger (SS-179)
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| Missing image USS_Plunger;0817913.jpg Plunger (SS-179) is waterborne at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. 8 July 1936. | |
| Career | 
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| Ordered: | |
| Laid down: | 25 March 1935 |
| Launched: | 7 July 1936 |
| Commissioned: | 26 January 1937 |
| Fate: | lost to unknown causes |
| Stricken: | 19 August 1943 |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 1330 tons surfaced, 1997 tons submerged |
| Length: | 300 ft 7 in (92 m) |
| Beam: | 25 ft 1 in (7.6 m) |
| Draft: | 13 ft 10 in (4.2 m) |
| Speed: | 19.5 knots (36 km/h) surfaced, 9 knots (17 km/h) submerged |
| Complement: | 50 officers and men |
| Armament: | 1 x 3 inch (76 mm) gun, 6 x 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes |
USS Plunger (SS-179), a Porpoise-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named plunger: a diver, a daring gambler.
The second USS Plunger (SS–179) was laid down 17 July 1935 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine; launched 8 July 1936; sponsored by Miss Edith E. Greenlee; and commissioned 19 November 1936, Lt. George L. Russell in command.
Plunger departed Gravesend Bay, N.Y. 15 April 1937 for shakedown cruise to Guantanamo Bay, the Canal Zone, and Guayaquil, Ecuador. In November, following post-shakedown alterations at Portsmouth, she steamed to San Diego to join SubDiv 14, SubRon 6. Continuing operations in the San Diego area for the next several years, Plunger joined Holland (AS–3) and 5 P-class subs 15 March 1938 for a cruise to Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Practice cruises to waters off Panama and Hawaii occupied the next several years. On 30 November 1941 she reported to Pearl Harbor and was off Diamond Head when Japanese planes attacked 7 December.
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First and second war patrols, December 1941 – July 1942
With Gudgeon (SS–211) and Pollack (SS–180), Plunger departed Pearl Harbor the 14th on her first war patrol to Kii Suido, a principal entrance into the Inland Sea and an important funnel to industrial bases in the area. She sank Japanese cargo ship Eizon Maru 18 January 1942.
Plunger’s 2nd war patrol, 5 June to 15 July, took her off Shanghai. On this patrol, Plunger sank 4,700-ton cargo ship Ukai Maru No. 5 on 30 June and Unyo Maru No. 3 on 2 July before returning to Midway the 15th. While on this patrol, she sighted Italian steamer SS Conte Verde, proceeding to the U.S. with diplomats on board, including Ambassador Joseph Grew.
Third and fourth war patrols, October 1942 – January 1943
In October, as U.S. forces pushed on to Matanikau and Cape Esperance, Plunger departed Pearl Harbor on the 12th to reconnoiter the area and to block the “Tokyo Express.” However, Plunger hit an uncharted reef 2 November, destroying her sound gear and damaging her bottom.
After repairing at Brisbane, Plunger returned to the Guadalcanal area for her fourth war patrol and operated off Munda, where Japanese barges were coming in at night, unloading troops and supplies, and departing by day-break. On the night of 16–17 December she slipped past four destroyers and attacked two others unloading at Munda Bar. After seeing two of her “fish” explode, she slipped away from a counterattack. After another attack with unknown results the next night, and a bomber attack while heading home 8 January 1943, she arrived Pearl Harbor 12 January.
1943
Plunger continued reconnaissance patrols throughout the spring and summer. She sank Taihosan Maru 12 March, and destroyed Tatsutake Maru and Kinai Maru 10 May. In June, she joined Lapon (SS-260) and Permit (SS-178) in the first U.S. penetration into the Sea of Japan, an area abounding with Japanese shipping. Crossing the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk, the ships returned to Midway 26 July but departed again 6 August to return to the Sea of Okhotsk. Plunger sank 3,404-ton Seitai Maru there 20 August and 4,655-ton Ryokai Maru 22 August. Returning to Pearl Harbor 5 September, the ships were the only U.S. vessels to complete 2 patrols to that Sea until the final weeks of the war.
In October, Plunger reconnoitered in the Marshalls area. Plunger added lifeguard duties to her operations as U.S. bombers hit the islands. She stopped to pick up a downed pilot 15 November. During the rescue, a Zero strafed the boat, seriously wounding the executive officer and 5 bluejackets. Nevertheless, the submarine rescued Lt. (j.g.) Franklin George Schramm.
1944–1945
Frequent depth-charge attacks pursued Plunger in January 1944 as she patrolled off the Japanese main islands. The risk was profitable, however, as Plunger sank Toyo Maru No. 5 and Toyo Maru No. 8 on 2 February and Kimishima Maru on the 23rd. Returning to Pearl Harbor 8 March, Plunger departed again 8 May to patrol the Bonin Islands. In July, she patrolled in and around Truk.
On 19 September 1944 she reported to Pearl Harbor for overhaul. She departed 15 February 1945 for New London, to serve in a training capacity until 25 October, when she reported to New Haven for Navy Day celebrations. On 30 October she reported to the Boston Navy Yard, where she decommissioned 15 November 1945.
Post-war service
Retained in an inactive status, Plunger was fitted for service as a Naval Reserve Training vessel and reported to Brooklyn, N.Y. in May 1946, remaining there until 8 May 1952, when she departed for Jacksonville, Fla. to support the Naval Reserve Training Program. Returning to New York 18 February 1954, she was declared unessential 5 July 1956. Struck from the Navy Register 6 July 1956, she was sold to Bethlehem Steel Co., Bethlehem, Pa. 22 April 1957.
Plunger received 14 battle stars for World War II service.
See USS Plunger for other ships of the same name.
References
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
External links
- history.navy.mil: USS Plunger (http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p8/plunger-ii.htm)
- hazegray.org: USS Plunger (http://hazegray.org/danfs/submar/ss179.txt)
- navsource.org: USS Plunger (http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08179.htm)
| Porpoise-class submarine |
| P-1 Type |
| Porpoise | Pike |
| P-3 Type |
| Shark | Tarpon |
| P-5 Type |
| Perch | Pickerel | Permit | Plunger | Pollack | Pompano |
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List of submarines of the United States Navy |