World War II Submarines Previously Based In San Pedro

Several of our World War II submarines had once been stationed at the Submarine Base, San Pedro.  Among these were the submarine NARWHAL or V-5 and the Navy's third NAUTILUS. Of these two, NAUTILUS, originally named V6 (designated SF9, re-designated SC2, 11 February 1925), was laid down on 10 May 1927 by the Navy Yard, Mare Island, Vallejo, California; launched on 15 March 1930; commissioned 1 July 1930; renamed NAUTILUS 19 February 1931, and designated SS168 on 1 July 1931. Both of these modern submarines operated out of San Pedro, as did many of the older R and S-class submarines, laid down during World War I, who also went on to serve during World War II. 

Among the R-class submarines once stationed at San Pedro to see service in World War II were the R-1 (SS-78); R-2 (SS-79); R-3 (SS-80); R-4 (SS-81); R-5 (SS-82); R-6 (SS-83) and R-10 (SS-87), which were joined by the last class of submarines to be home ported in San Pedro those of the S-class which included the S-30 (SS-135); S-32 (SS-137); S-33 (SS-138); S-37 (SS-142) and S-38 (SS-143).  Of the aforementioned S-class submarines, the S-30 (SS-135) was awarded two battle stars for her World War II service; the S-32 (SS-136) earned five battle stars during World War II; the S-33 (SS-137) earned one battle star; S-37 (SS-142) earned five battle stars; and S-38 (SS-143) earned three battle stars during World War II.

Yet it was the submarine NARWHAL (SS-167), which received 15 battle stars for her World War II service, and NAUTILUS (SS-168), the Mare Island built submarine, who went on to earn a Presidential Unit Citation for her aggressive war patrols in enemy controlled waters, as well as 14 battle stars for her service during World War II, for which the City and Port of Los Angeles-San Pedro can take pride.

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