Launched on May 12, 1941 the USS Drum Submarine was first to World War II . It was also the first Gato class submarine, setting the basic design for the American fleet submarines. Arriving at Pearl Harbor on 1 April 1942 it was the first Drum Submarine to enter into WWII . It earned 12 battle stars and sank 15 Japanese battle ships. It is the oldest American submarine on display in the world.