USS Growler (SSG-577) facts for kids
Regulus I missile aboard USS Growler at Pier 86 in New York, its museum ship home.
|
|
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 United States |
|
| 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 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 ft 3 in) 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 |
|
The USS Growler (SSG-577) was a special submarine built for the U.S. Navy. It was designed to carry cruise missiles, which are like small, unmanned airplanes that can deliver powerful payloads. The Growler was one of the first submarines meant to carry nuclear weapons as a way to prevent attacks, known as a nuclear deterrence.
This submarine was part of the Grayback class, and it was the fourth U.S. Navy vessel named after the growler fish. The Growler and its sister ship, the Grayback, were unique because they were diesel-electric submarines carrying nuclear missiles. Their main job was to patrol near the Soviet Union during the Cold War (from 1958 to 1964) to act as a deterrent.
After its service, the Growler was turned into a museum ship in 1988. Today, you can visit it at the Intrepid Museum in New York City.
Contents
Building and Training the Growler
The Growler started being built on February 15, 1955, at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. It was officially launched into the water on April 5, 1958. Mrs. Robert K. Byerts, whose husband Commander Thomas B. Oakley, Jr. had passed away, was the ship's sponsor. The submarine officially joined the Navy on August 30, 1958, with Lieutenant Commander Charles Priest, Jr. in charge.
After some practice exercises near the East Coast, the Growler traveled south for its first major trip. It arrived in Puerto Rico in February 1959. In March, it went back to the Caribbean Sea to practice launching its Regulus I and Regulus II nuclear cruise missiles. Another submarine, the USS Runner, helped with these training launches.
Growler's Missions and Patrols
The Growler then sailed 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. The submarine took part in many training exercises, including battle drills and missile practice.
Its first important mission, called a Regulus Deterrent Mission, began on March 12, 1960. The Growler left Hawaii carrying Regulus sea-to-surface missiles with nuclear warheads. It patrolled secretly for over two months. These patrols were very demanding for the crew, as they had to stay underwater for many hours or even days.
These missions by the Growler and its sister ship were the first of their kind for the submarine Navy. They were designed to deter potential enemies during the Cold War. One of the Growler's main targets, if a nuclear conflict had happened, would have been a Soviet naval base in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
From May 1960 to December 1963, the Growler completed nine of these important deterrent patrols. One of these patrols ended in Yokosuka, Japan, in April 1962, where the Navy showed off one of its newest weapons.
Retirement and Becoming a Museum
The Growler finished its active service on May 25, 1964, at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California. It was then kept in reserve. For a while, it was stored at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and later at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
In 1980, it was decided that the Growler would be used as a target for torpedo practice. However, in 1988, the U.S. Congress decided to give the submarine to Zachary Fisher. He was the chairman of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City.
The Growler was moved to Brooklyn for repairs when the Intrepid Museum was being renovated. Some rusted holes were found in its hull, making the repairs cost over $1.5 million. The submarine returned to Pier 86 in New York City in February 2009. It reopened to the public on May 21, 2009, during the museum's "Fleet Week" celebration.
The Growler Today
Today, the Growler is the only nuclear missile submarine in the United States that is open for visitors. Before entering the submarine, visitors can learn a lot about its history and technology on Pier 86. Once inside, the tour moves quickly, but staff are available to answer questions.
