The fifth USS Porpoise (SS–172) was laid down at the U.S. Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 27 October 1933; launched 20 June 1935; sponsored by Miss Eva Croft; and commissioned 15 August 1935 by Lt. Comdr.
The second USS Porpoise was a hermaphrodite (square rigged foremast and schooner rigged mainmast) brig in the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War. She was based on the same plans as Dolphin.