USS Pompano SS 181
The USS Pompano SS 181 was a Porpoise-class submarine that was originally launched on March 11th, 1937 from the Mare Island Naval Shipyard out of California and was sponsored by a Mrs. Isaac I. Yates. The newly constructed submarine was officially commissioned on June 12th, 1937 under the command of Lieutenant Commander Lewis S. Parks. Following her initial deployment into active duty, she spent the years prior to World War II patrolling the waters off the western seaboard of the United States while stationed at Mare Island along the California coast.
The Pompano reached Pearl Harbor just days after the Japanese offensive and after being refueled reconditioned she immediately departed on her first war patrol on December 18th, 1941 where she was ordered to carry out lifeguard duty for the pilots performing attack runs on the Marshall Islands and escorting the American aircraft carrier group along the eastern coasts of the island chain while they conducted their strikes. She then traveled to the waters just off Wake Island to gather intelligence regarding the machine gun turrets and enemy shore installations there.
While performing her reconnaissance duties, she encountered a massive group of enemy ships in and around the harbor at Wotje. These included several large ships that were being protected by patrol craft and she then spotted what she was looking for. On January 12th, she sighted the sixteen thousand ton Yawata who had four escorts protecting her. She engaged her target and fired four torpedoes scoring two hits but the target steamed away at full speed with her escorts protecting when the enemy realized they were a sitting duck.
She arrived to Pearl Harbor on January 31st for refueling and refitting and on the same day the aircraft carriers of the United States Navy struck a deafening blow to the heavily enemy occupied Marshall Islands beginning one of the fiercest campaigns of the war that called to action every able sailor and soldier the American forces had to offer. The Pompano departed Midway heading to the Hokkaido and Honshu Islands on August 20th. She was never heard from again and it’s likely she was sunk by an uncharted water mine. She was presumed lost and struck from the record on January 12th, 1944. She received seven battle stars for service during World War II.
Many brave sailors served aboard the USS Pompano SS 181. Unfortunately, the toxic substance asbestos also found a home on the submarine, within the pipes and insulation materials. Asbestos exposure has been proven to be the leading cause of mesothelioma, a deadly and rare form of asbestos cancer. The crewmen who sailed on the USS Pompano 181 and the men who worked on her while she was anchored at port were all subject to exposure. Any veteran crewmembers or repair personnel that may have come in contact these airborne asbestos fibers should closely monitor their respiratory health and consult their medical physician immediately.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
