Submarine Growler | Exhibitions

A closeup of the periscope in the Growler submarine.

A museum admission ticket is required to enter the submarine. The Cold War exhibition is free to the public. The capacity of both the exhibition and submarine has been reduced. Due to these changes, wait times may be longer. The line to the submarine Growler and exhibition may close early.

SAFETY GUIDELINES:

Visitors must be at least 40” tall.
All visitors, including service and support animals, must be able to pass through a replica of the hatch without assistance.
Areas inside are narrow and may not be suitable for visitors with claustrophobia.
Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Strollers, large bags, luggage and backpacks are not permitted.
Food and beverages are not permitted.

Enlisted men ate in the crew's mess (or dining room) while crew members played games and watched movies in this space to relax. Next to the crew's mess was the galley, a tiny kitchen where Growler's cooks prepared all of the crew's meals.

[0:09] Hi, I'm Bill Peters and this is another Intrepid Minute. Today we're on the submarine growler. Cruise mess or the kitchen and dining room is the physical and emotional center of the boat. About 25 people can eat here per serving and each meal has three servings. When meals are not being served, the crew hangs out here playing cards, games, and watching movies. Meals are served every 6 hours.

[0:33] In this very small kitchen, food for 100 people is made, as well as a cook. The boat also has a baker and usually two mess cooks who help prep and clean. The starboard or right side of the kitchen is called the scullery. Dishes are washed here. There's an ice cream machine, refrigerators, and a garbage disposal unit. Below the deck is a food storage area and canned food is stored anywhere else there is space. To learn more, visit intrepid museum.org. Stay tuned for another Intrepid Minute.

Growler crew members steered the submarine from the three seats in this space, while two periscopes located in the center of the room allowed crew members to scan the water’s surface.

Growler had two torpedo rooms located at the bow (front) and stern (back) of the submarine. The torpedoes were intended for self-defense, and the room contained nine bunks for enlisted crew members.

[0:09] Hi, I'm Bill Peters and this is another Intrepid Minute. Today we're on the submarine Growler. The submarine has torpedo rooms in the front and the back.

[0:17] In the front we have four tubes. Back here we have two. They don't shine themselves. I served as a torpedo men aboard three submarines. Growler has torpedoes strictly for defense to protect the submarine. In the front of the submarine, we have four torpedo tubes where we shoot ships. If a ship chases you, you go deep and turn around.

[0:38] In the back of the submarine, we only have torpedoes that shoot other submarines. The tubes are made of solid brass, and whenever you shoot a weapon, you have to climb in, clean the tube, and write your initials on the outer door. BP. Those are my initials. And finally, there are nine beds in this torpedo room, 12 in the forward torpedo room. You always want to sleep in a torpedo room. It's the end of the boat.

[1:03] Nobody walks past you. To learn more, visit intrepid museum.org. Stay tuned for another Intrepid Minute.

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