Was there a doctor on board these submarines?

No, there were no doctors assigned to our submarines in WW2. The “docs”, as they were always called, were medics. These medics, designated as pharmacist mates at the time, were specially trained and qualified for independent duty. They were very good. They understood the art of medicine as well as the science. They were very good at diagnosis and treatment.

Pampanito did have a doctor on board briefly. On her third war patrol, when she was enroute to Saipan with the rescued British and Australian soldiers, she was met by a destroyer. A doctor and another pharmacist mate were transferred to the boat from the destroyer to help with the sickest soldiers. Unfortunately, the doctor appears to have spent most of his time doing paperwork and complaining that Pampanito, then well into the patrol, didn’t have enough fresh citrus fruit on board to prevent scurvy. As if it were possible to still have fresh fruit.

There are still no doctors on our attack submarines. The large missile boats are the only U. S. subs with doctors on board at this time.