USS Drum, World War II submarine at Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile, US
The USS Drum is a Gato-class submarine stretching over 311 feet and equipped with four Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines used during World War II combat operations. The crew worked from the control room and accessed torpedo compartments, quarters, and engine spaces throughout the hull.
The submarine entered service in 1941 and saw combat operations against Japanese naval ships and transports in the Pacific Theater. Its service ended in 1945, after which it became a training vessel and later a museum ship on the coast.
The vessel displays a special insignia created by Walt Disney Studios, showing the drumfish found in North Atlantic waters. This design reflects the personal touch that many warships received during that era.
Visitors can explore several decks to view original equipment, crew quarters, and control stations through guided tours. It helps to wear comfortable shoes and expect tight spaces within the submarine's interior passages.
The submarine survived two major hurricanes—Georges in 1998 and Katrina in 2005—and was subsequently moved ashore for better protection. This resilience shows how tough these vessels were despite being built for entirely different conditions.
Location: Mobile
Inception: January 1, 1941
Reference: SS-228
Operator: Battleship Memorial Park
Address: Battleship Parkway
Website: https://drum228.org
GPS coordinates: 30.68133,-88.01667
Latest update: December 9, 2025 13:10
The historic ships of the United States Navy are a direct testament to the country’s naval development throughout the 20th century. These warships, converted into museums accessible to the public, allow visitors to learn about life onboard and the technologies used during major global conflicts. The collections include Iowa-class battleships such as the USS New Jersey in Camden and the USS Wisconsin in Norfolk, destroyers like the USS Laffey in Mount Pleasant, as well as World War II submarines like the USS Cod in Cleveland and the USS Lionfish in Fall River. Visitors can walk the combat decks, examine original weapon systems, and explore preserved interior spaces. The USS Yorktown aircraft carrier at Patriots Point also displays vintage military aircraft, while the Naval Submarine Museum at Keyport features diving equipment and historical torpedoes. These sites, spread across oceans, provide a tangible view of the US Navy's role during Pacific conflicts, the Korean War, and more recent operations, showcasing nearly 80 years of maritime military history.
These preserved submarines open their hatches to visitors who want to see where sailors lived and fought beneath the ocean surface. From World War II patrol boats that hunted across the Pacific to the first nuclear-powered vessel that changed naval history forever, each submarine reveals the cramped reality of underwater service. You walk through narrow steel corridors, peer into bunks stacked three high, and stand where officers once studied charts and gave orders in near silence. The collection includes vessels from harbors across the United States and around the world, each one a working museum where the instruments, torpedo tubes, and engine rooms remain as they were during active duty. Some of these submarines sank enemy warships and rescued Allied prisoners during the Second World War. Others served through the Cold War, carrying crews on patrols that lasted weeks without seeing daylight. A few pushed the limits of technology, proving that nuclear reactors could power a vessel across thousands of miles and even under the polar ice. Whether docked in a busy port or resting beside a quiet lake, these submarines bring you face to face with the men who descended into the deep, closed the hatch, and did their work in spaces smaller than a city bus.
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