USS Growler (SSG-577) facts for kids
Regulus I missile aboard USS Growler at Pier 86 in New York, its museum ship home.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Growler |
| Namesake | Growler |
| Ordered | 31 July 1954 |
| Builder | Portsmouth Naval Shipyard |
| Laid down | 15 February 1955 |
| Launched | 5 April 1958 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Robert K. Byerts, widow of Commander Thomas B. Oakley, Jr. |
| Commissioned | 30 August 1958 |
| Decommissioned | 25 May 1964 |
| Stricken | 1 August 1980 |
| Homeport | Pearl Harbor, HI |
| Status | Museum ship at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics USS Growler SSG-577 | |
| Class and type | Grayback class submarine |
| Displacement | 2,110 tons light, 3,550 tons full, 1,440 tons dead |
| Length | 96.69 m (317' 3" ft) overall, 96.3 m (316 ft) waterline |
| Beam | 8.2 m (27 ft) extreme, 7.9 m (26 ft) waterline |
| Draught | 5.7 m (19 ft) |
| Propulsion | 3 Fairbanks-Morse Diesel engines, 2 Elliott electric motors |
| Speed | 17 kn (20 mph; 31 km/h) surfaced, 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h) submerged |
| Test depth | 712 |
| Complement | 9 officers, 11 chief petty officers, 68 enlisted men |
| Armament |
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USS Growler (SSG-577) was a special submarine built for the U.S. Navy. It was designed to carry and launch cruise missiles. These missiles were meant to be a powerful way to protect the country. Growler was the second and last submarine of its kind, called the Grayback class. It was named after a type of fish, the growler.
The Growler was unique because it was a diesel-powered submarine that carried nuclear missiles. Its main job was to patrol the Pacific Ocean during the Cold War. This was a time when the United States and the Soviet Union had a lot of tension. The submarine's mission was to be ready to launch missiles if needed, acting as a deterrent. It also helped with special missions using its torpedo tubes and missile hangar.
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Building and Training the Growler Crew
The construction of Growler began on February 15, 1955. It was built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. The submarine was officially launched on April 5, 1958. Mrs. Robert K. Byerts, whose husband was a Navy commander, was the sponsor for the ship.
Growler joined the Navy on August 30, 1958. Lieutenant Commander Charles Priest, Jr. was its first commanding officer.
Learning to Launch Missiles
After some training near the East Coast, Growler sailed to Puerto Rico. This trip, called a shakedown cruise, happened in February 1959. It then went back to Portsmouth briefly.
In March, Growler returned to the Caribbean Sea for important training. The crew practiced launching Regulus I and Regulus II nuclear cruise missiles. Another submarine, USS Runner, helped with this training. Growler finished its training and returned to Portsmouth in April.
Growler's Missions and Patrols
Growler then traveled to the Pacific Ocean, passing through the Panama Canal. It arrived at Pearl Harbor on September 7, 1959. There, it became the lead ship for Submarine Division 12.
First Deterrent Patrols
At Pearl Harbor, Growler took part in many exercises. These included battle drills and missile practice. Its first important mission, called a Regulus Deterrent Mission, began on March 12, 1960.
On this mission, Growler left Hawaii carrying Regulus sea-to-surface missiles. These missiles had nuclear warheads. The submarine patrolled in secret to avoid being detected. These patrols could last for two months or even longer. The crew had to stay underwater for many hours or even days. This was a big challenge for a diesel submarine.
Life on Patrol
It was a tradition for the crew to write a poem in the logbook on New Year's Day at midnight. On January 1, 1961, during Growler's second patrol, an officer wrote: "Not our idea of fun and good cheers/But doing our job to ensure many New Years." This shows how dedicated the crew was.
The main target for Growler during a nuclear exchange was a Soviet naval base. This base was located at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The patrols by Growler and similar submarines were the first of their kind. They were the very first deterrent patrols in the history of the submarine Navy.
From May 1960 to December 1963, Growler completed nine of these important patrols. One of these patrols ended in Yokosuka, Japan. This was on April 24, 1962, where the Navy showed off one of its newest weapons.
Decommissioning and Museum Life
After its active service, Growler returned to Mare Island, California. It was taken out of service on May 25, 1964. The submarine was then kept in reserve. It was moved to different shipyards over the years.
In 1980, it was decided that Growler would be used as a target for torpedo practice. However, in 1988, the U.S. Congress gave the submarine to Zachary Fisher. He was the chairman of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City.
Restoration and Reopening
The Intrepid Museum complex, including the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, underwent big renovations. Because of this, Growler was moved to Brooklyn for repairs. Workers found rusted holes in the hull, which made the repairs more difficult and costly.
Growler returned to Pier 86 in New York City in February 2009. It reopened to the public on May 21, 2009. This was during the Intrepid museum's "Fleet Week 2009" celebration.
Growler Today: A Museum Ship
Today, Growler is the only nuclear missile submarine in the United States that you can visit. Before you go inside the submarine, there are large areas on Pier 86 with lots of information. Visitors can learn a lot about the submarine's history and technology.
Once you are inside Growler, the tour moves quickly. You might not have much time to ask questions, but the staff are there to help. It's a great chance to see what life was like on a Cold War submarine.
