I toured the only nuclear-missile submarine in the US open to the public. Take a look inside.

One of the museum's top attractions is a self-guided tour of the USS Growler submarine.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

Every time I've visited the Intrepid Museum, there has been a line to enter the submarine due to the attraction's popularity and small, enclosed spaces.

The line moved quickly when I visited in May 2024 — I only waited for about 15 minutes.

The USS Growler patrolled the seas on top-secret missions off the coast of Russia during the Cold War.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

Commissioned in 1958, the USS Growler carried Regulus II sea-to-surface missiles armed with nuclear warheads. The looming threat of the submarine's firepower acted as a deterrent to prevent other countries from using their nuclear arsenals.

Exhibits provided a brief history of the USS Growler and the nuclear missiles it carried before entering the submarine.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

The first Regulus missiles had a range of 500 miles. Regulus II missiles could travel twice that distance.

There was also a sample doorway to make sure guests could walk through the submarine.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

To visit the USS Growler, guests had to be at least 40 inches tall and had to be able to pass through this doorway without assistance.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

Growler used a binnacle — a stand that holds a ship's compass — and SINS — the Ship's Inertial Navigation System — to navigate through the seas.

The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

Crew members assigned to the missile checkout and guidance center were in charge of maintaining, firing, and guiding the trajectory of the Regulus missiles. Launching a Regulus missile took about 15 minutes.

Officers on the USS Growler lived in staterooms that held two to three people.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

Officers acted as leaders and commanders of the crew, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the submarine.

Their staterooms featured folding sinks and desks with chairs that included storage drawers to maximize the tight quarters.

Officers had access to their own shower.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

Crew members shared a separate washroom.

Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

The wardroom was furnished with laminate walls and vinyl seating booths, popular interior design trends post-World War II.

Officers' meals were cooked in the galley and served from the wardroom pantry.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

The USS Growler carried all of the food and supplies it would need to sustain itself during patrols that lasted over two months.

A storekeeper kept track of non-food supplies such as light bulbs, pens, and toilet paper.

The USS Growler's commanding officer enjoyed the only private room on the entire submarine as its highest-ranked leader.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

The room featured a telephone and a bed that folded up into seating.

Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

Yeomen wrote reports, sorted files, and maintained crew members' service records.

A ladder in the bridge trunk led to the bridge of the submarine.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

When the USS Growler traveled on the surface of the water, the bridge provided a vantage point for crew members to surveil the surrounding ocean.

Seeing how far down I was in the submarine was striking. I couldn't imagine what it must have been like to serve on a two-month-long patrol with no fresh air or sunlight.

The control room and attack center contained a dizzying number of buttons, dials, and other instruments.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

Crew members monitored the USS Growler's function with data gathered in the control room and attack center.

Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

The crew members who sat in the chairs directed the USS Growler's movements with three steering wheels that controlled different angles and movements.

The room also featured two periscopes: one for observation and one for attacks.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

The periscope used for observation featured a wider view, while the attack periscope had higher magnification capabilities.

A call signal station could signal different areas of the submarine such as the wardroom, the office, and the control room.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

Each room had a corresponding number that crew members could dial.

The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

Sonar stands for sound navigation and ranging. The USS Growler used passive sonar, a system of underwater microphones that listen to the ocean and detect sound waves, to track other vessels and navigate its own positions.

Passive sonar is a more discreet alternative to active sonar, which sends a pulse of energy through the water to detect objects.

Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

The USS Growler could only send messages at periscope depth. Lower down in the ocean, it could receive low-frequency signals, but couldn't send any outgoing messages.

Meals were prepared in the galley.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

A meal schedule from 1962 listed dishes such as fried chicken, clam chowder, hamburgers, and meatloaf with gravy.

In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

Trash was disposed of in weighted tubes that wouldn't float to the surface and give away the submarine's location.

The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

It functioned as the dining room as well as a place for crew members to play games and watch movies.

Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

The green straps on the beds kept crew members from rolling out of the bunks during rough seas.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

Showers were a rare luxury for crew members on the USS Growler. A plaque displayed in the room read that some sailors said they never showered once during their two-month patrols.

A distillation system boiled seawater, filtering out the salt to supply fresh water.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

The distilled water was used for cooling the submarine's diesel engines, cooking food, washing dishes, and bathing.

Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

The engines were soundproofed.

Sailors controlled Growler's speed in the maneuvering room, with officers communicating orders from the control room.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

The USS Growler's maximum speed was 12 knots, or 14 mph, while submerged and 14 knots, or 16 mph, while surfaced.

In addition to carrying nuclear missiles, the USS Growler was also armed with torpedoes.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

Nine crew members slept in the aft torpedo room, where weapons like the Mark 37 torpedo were kept.

I was relieved to see the sky again as I exited the USS Growler, and in awe of service members who spent months at a time on the vessel.

In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position., The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area., Officers had access to their own shower., Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings., Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office., Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew., The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation., Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room., Meals were prepared in the galley., In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash., The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler., Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks., The crew's washroom featured two showers., Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room.

As the only nuclear-missile submarine in the US that's open to the public, visiting the USS Growler is absolutely worth a trip to the Intrepid Museum.

I was fascinated by how self-sufficient the submarine was as it carried out top-secret patrols. It was hard to believe that 90 crew members operated in such small spaces for extended periods of time.

With its supply of nuclear missiles kept at the ready during the Cold War, the stakes couldn't have been higher to keep the USS Growler running smoothly and efficiently. The stakes remain high today as US Navy submarines continue to patrol waters connected to regional conflicts.

Post Related