USS Plunger (SS-179)
History of the USS Plunger Submarine
The USS Plunger (SS-179) was ordered for the U.S. Navy between World War I and World War II. Her keel was laid down at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire on July 17, 1935. She was launched on July 8, 1936 and commissioned on November 19, 1936 under the command of Lieutenant George L. Russell.
In her early career, the USS Plunger operated out of San Diego, California as a member of Submarine Division 14, Submarine Squadron 6. She sailed to Dutch Harbor, Alaska in March 1938 and spent several years conducting training cruises near Hawaii and Panama. She was off Diamond Head, Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 9, 1941.
The USS Plunger departed Pearl Harbor for her first war patrol on December 14 in the Japanese home waters. She sank the Japanese merchant ship Eizan Maru with her torpedoes on January 18, 1942. The submarine returned to Pearl Harbor on February 3.
After a brief patrol during the Battle of Midway, the USS Plunger sailed for her second war patrol on June 5 in the East China Sea. On June 30, she sank the Japanese merchant ship Unkai Maru No. 5. Her torpedoes sank the transport ship Unyo Maru No. 3 on July 2 before she put in at Midway 13 days later.
On October 12, the USS Plunger commenced her third war patrol in the Solomon Islands. She hit an uncharted reef on November 2, destroying her sound gear and damaging her bottom. The submarine was forced to end her patrol early, putting in at Brisbane six days later.
Once her repair work was complete, the USS Plunger departed Brisbane on November 21 for her fourth war patrol in the Solomon Islands. She launched two attacks on December 16 and 17 that had unknown results, as she slipped away before she could come under counterattack. This patrol ended at Pearl Harbor on January 12, 1943.
The USS Plunger got underway for her fifth war patrol, and on February 28, her torpedoes damaged the Japanese fleet tanker Iro. On March 12, she sank the water carrier Taihosan Maru. During her sixth war patrol, the submarine sank the passenger ship Tatsutake Maru and the transport Kinai Maru on May 10.
Her seventh war patrol began on June 25, and the USS Plunger headed for the Sea of Japan in the company of a small wolf pack. On July 7, she damaged the Japanese merchant ship Anzan Maru with her torpedoes. Five days later, she sank the merchant ship Niitaka Maru. Her patrol ended on July 26 at Midway.
The USS Plunger sailed for her eighth war patrol on August 6 in the Sea of Japan. Twelve days later, her torpedoes damaged the Japanese merchant ship Okuni Maru. She sank the merchant ship Seitai Maru two days later, and the merchant fishery mother ship Ryokai Maru two days after that. The submarine put in at Pearl Harbor on September 5.
During her ninth war patrol in October, the USS Plunger provided reconnaissance in the Marshall Islands. She also provided lifeguard services during the United States air strikes in the area, rescuing a downed aviator on November 15. During the rescue, an enemy plane strafed the ship and seriously wounded her executive officer and five other men, but the rescue attempt was successful.
After refitting, the USS Plunger commenced her tenth war patrol in the Japanese home waters on January 14, 1944. On February 2, she sank the Japanese merchant ships Toyo Maru No. 5 and Toyo Maru No. 8. Her torpedoes sank the transport Kimishima Maru on February 23. This patrol ended on March 8 at Pearl Harbor.
On May 8, the USS Plunger departed for her eleventh war patrol of the Bonin Islands. This uneventful patrol ended on June 8. She began her twelfth and final war patrol on July 31 off Truk. Her patrol ended at Pearl Harbor on September 19 without making any enemy contacts. From there, she was ordered back to the United States for a much needed overhaul.
Following her overhaul, the USS Plunger provided training services at New London, Connecticut until October 25, 1945. She celebrated Navy Day at New Haven, Connecticut on October 25 before reporting to Boston Navy Yard in Massachusetts. The submarine was decommissioned on November 15, 1945. While out of commission, the submarine served as a Naval Reserve Training vessel in Brooklyn, New York and Jacksonville, Florida. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on July 6, 1956 and sold for scrap on April 22, 1957. The USS Plunger earned 14 battle stars for her service in World War II.
The use of asbestos was common in shipbuilding components for much of the 20th Century because of its resistance to heat, fire, water and corrosion. Because of their asbestos exposure onboard ship and in the shipyards, seaman, shipyard workers and longshoreman are at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.
Sources include:
Asbestos and Ship-Building: Fatal Consequences, by John Hedley-Whyte and Debra R Milamed
