USS S-39 (SS-144) was a United States Navy S-class submarine that saw combat in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

With the next year, 1924, she moved south to the Panama Canal, thence proceeded into the Caribbean Sea for final trials, further exercises, and training dives.

Steaming via Pearl Harbor and Guam, she reached Manila on 5 November; joined the Asiatic Fleet as a member of Submarine Division 17 (SubDiv 17); and commenced local operations and drills in the Luzon area.

In mid-May 1925, she 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.

Just prior to the entry of the United States into World War II, S-39 (under the command of James W. Coe, Class of 1930[4]) patrolled off southern Luzon.

Increased enemy air activity rendered naval installations in the area untenable, and S-39 was ordered to Java to join what in mid-January 1942 would become the ABDA command.

S-39's fifth patrol (now under Francis E. Brown),[10] delayed twice by mechanical failures and once by the necessity of hospitalizing her executive officer, began on 10 August.

Throughout 14 August, 15–20 ft (4.6–6.1 m) breakers crashed over the submarine, but the crew maintained their fight to refloat the ship, including jettisoning more fuel and firing four deactivated torpedoes.

The heavy seas had not abated; S-39 continued to be pounded against the rocks, and a call for help brought word that the Australian minesweeper HMAS Katoomba was coming.

The commanding officer almost faced court martial (grounding in peacetime is considered negligence), but was saved by Admiral Ralph W.