USS S-39 (SS-144) Ship's Log

Year Date Historical Events 1919 Jan 14 Keel laid down by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., San Francisco,CA.   Jul 2 Launched. 1923 Sep 14 Commissioned with LT. John A. Scott in command. From October through December 1923, S-39 conducted maneuvers off Southern California. 1924 Apr 1 S-39 returned to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., for her first overhaul.   Sep 17 S-39 departed San Francisco, CA. for the Philippines.   Nov 5 S-39 arrived at Manila, Philippines Island. 1925 May 15 S-39 sailed for the Asiatic mainland with her division; and, after brief stops at Amoy and Hong Kong, arrived at Tsingtao, whence she operated until early September.   May 15 (Cont'd.) She then returned to Manila and for the next 16 years maintained, with few interruptions, a similar schedule: summers at Tsingtao, with patrols along the China coast.   May 15 (Cont'd.) Winters in the Philippines, for overhauls, engineering trials, joint Army-Navy maneuvers, type training exercises, and short patrols. 1941 Dec 8 S-39 moved into San Bernardino Strait to impede Japanese mining activities.   Dec 13 S-39 contacted and attacked an enemy freighter, but, again escorts interferred and her crew was prevented from verifying a sinking.   Dec 21 S-39 returned to Manila. 1942 Jan 15 S-39 departed on her 2nd war patrol for Java.   Jan 24 S-39 arrived at Soerabaja and underwent an abbreviated availability and departed for her 3rd war patrol.   Mar 4 S-39 sank the 6,500 ton tanker Erimo.   Mar 18 S-39 arrived at Fremantle, Australia.   Apr 30 S-39 moved to Brisbane, Australia.   May 10 S-39 departed on her 4th war patrol. During the next four weeks, she reconnoitered designated areas of the Louisiade Archipelago, then operated in the Solomon Islands.   Aug 10 S-39 departed on 5th war patrol.   Aug 14 S-39 grounded on submerged rocks off Rossel Island and took on a 35° list to port. The crew was rescued. The S-39 was abandonded and left to "break up" on the rocks.