USS S-32 (SS 137) was EB 73 C Design

She was built by United Iron Works;
Her keel was laid 12 April, 1918;
She was launched 11 January, 1919;
Her Sponsor was Miss Margaret Tynan;
She was commissioned 21 February, 1923;
Her first Skipper was LT Edward Hazlett, Jr.;

History

For many years prior to World War II, USS S-32 operated out of the Aleutian Islands and with the Asiatic Fleet.

7 December, 1937 - USS S-32 was decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

18 September, 1940 - The boat was recommissioned and assigned to New London.

Early 1942 - USS S-32 was under way for the Panama Canal Zone where she conducted two defensive patrols in the Pacific Approaches to the Panama Canal prior to June 1942.

June 1942 - She was underway for San Diego, to prepare for further transfer to the Aleutian Islands for patrol duty.

7 July, 1942 - USS S-32 departed Dutch Harbor for her first offensive patrol; actually her third war patrol. LCDR Maximillian G. Schmidt was her Skipper.

18 Oct, 1942 - During the fifth patrol, Schmidt fired four torpedoes at two cargo vessels at anchor in Masashi Wan. Two explosions were heard. A periscope observation showed one vessel on fire and settled on the bottom. Damage to the other vessel was undetermined.

December 1942 - the boat was in San Diego for overhaul & sound school training; through January 1943.

Early 1943 - During a winter storm, she was driven into a trough that rolled her 65 degrees to starboard at least three times.

9 March, 1943 - During the sixth war patrol, Schmidt claimed the sinking of a 1,200 ton destroyer as the result of one hit from four torpedoes fired at the end of a night surface radar approach. This was not confirmed by post-war Japanese records, and credit was not given.

13 Mar., 1943 - Visually fired 2 torpedoes at an unidentified enemy submarine of estimated 1,100 tons. One hit was recorded and a sinking was claimed. This was not confirmed by postwar Japanese records and credit was not given.

15 March, 1943 - During a daytime submerged periscope approach, fired three torpedoes at another enemy submarine of an estimated 2,000 tons. One hit was recorded and a sinking was claimed. This was not confirmed by postwar Japanese records and credit was not given.

10 April, 1943 - In the area of Hotlz Bay, during the seventh patrol, Schmidt fired four torpedoes during a night surface radar attack at two cargo vessels. Two explosions were heard & the vessels disappeared from the radar screen. Sinkings were not confirmed by postwar Japanese records.

27 May, 1943 - After carrying out a total of eight war patrols in the Aleutian Islands, USS S-32 departed for San Diego.

6 June, 1943 - She arrived San Diego for her final assignment; to provide training services for the rest of the War.

19 October, 1945 - USS S-32 was decommissioned at Mare Island Navy Yard.

USS S-32 received five Battle Stars during World War II.

WAR PATROLS OF USS S-32 (SS 137)

1st war patrol, dates unknown, was from PA Canal Zone to PA. Duration is unknown; no sinkings.
2nd war patrol, dates unknown, was from PA Canal Zone to PA. Duration is unknown; no sinkings.
3rd war patrol extended from 7 July 1942 to 10 August 1942; from DH Attu to DH. Duration was 24 days; no sinkings.
4th war patrol extended from 22 August ‘42 to 23 September 1942; from DH Kiska to DH. Duration was 32 days; no sinkings.
5th war patrol extended from 8 October 1942 to 27 October 1942; from DH Kuriles to DH. Duration 19 days; no sinkings.
6th war patrol extended from 25 February 1943 to 20 March 1943; from DH Holtz Bay to DH. Duration 23 days; no sinkings.
7th war patrol extended from 29 March 1943 to 16 April 1943; from DH Holtz Bay to DH. Duration 18 days; no sinkings.
8th war patrol extended from 4 May 1943 to 23 May 1943; from DH Kuriles to DH. Duration was 19 days; no sinkings.

SKIPPERS of USS S-32

LCDR Maximillian G. Schmidt was Commander for the first seven war patrols.
LCDR, later ADMIRAL, FRITZ HARLFINGER (2554-+-1992) was Commander for the 8th war patrol.