USS Gudgeon / TCG Hızırreis, Museum submarine in Izmit, Turkey
TCG Hızırreis is a decommissioned Tang-class submarine now permanently moored at the Kocaeli Museum Ships Command in Turkey for public visits. Inside, the vessel shows its engine room, torpedo tubes, and crew bunks exactly as they appeared during active duty.
Commissioned in July 1952, the vessel sailed under the American flag until its transfer to the Turkish Navy in 1983. During its time in American waters, it completed a full circumnavigation of the globe between July 1957 and February 1958.
The vessel was renamed TCG Hızırreis when transferred to Turkey in 1983, honoring the Ottoman Admiral Kurtoğlu Hızır Reis who led naval campaigns.
The museum sits at Salim Dervişoğlu Caddesi 56 in Kozluk district and is accessible by car or public transport. Visitors walk through the control room, torpedo compartments, and crew quarters, where the passages are narrow and the ceilings are low.
In August 1957, Soviet naval forces compelled the vessel to surface near Vladivostok, marking the first such incident during the Cold War. The event created diplomatic tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and drew international attention.
Location: Kocaeli Province
Inception: January 1, 1952
Reference: S-342
Website: https://kulturportali.gov.tr/contents/images/18012013_00996c53-a76b-46e8-9d61-b1493fff29f2.jpg
GPS coordinates: 40.76010,29.91660
Latest update: December 6, 2025 11:10
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.
İzmit Clock Tower
365 m
SEKA Paper Museum
689 m
USS Eversole
22 m
Orhan Mosque
971 m
Sultan Abdülaziz Imperial Lodge
471 m
Pertev Paşa Mosque
1.3 km
Kocaeli Museum
275 m
Fevziye Mosque
805 m
Selim Sırrı Pasha Mansion
682 m
Seka Park
1 km
Kocaeli Science Center
701 m
Portakal Hafız Mansion
1.4 km
Yumurtacı Mosque
653 m
Saatçi Ali Efendi Mansion
1 km
Süleyman Paşa Hamamı
839 m
Bağçeşme Mosque
1.1 km
Canfeda Kethüda Hâtun Fountain
987 m
Atlı Karınca
1.9 km
Güzel Sanatlar Sergi Salonu
231 m
Kocaeli Bölge Tiyatrosu
832 m
Çarpışan Oto
1.9 km
Balerin
2 km
Kavşak Işıklandırma Süsü
526 m
Türkiye
346 m
1 Mart Üsküdar Vapuru Faciası Anıtı
571 m
Kadın Çeşme
700 m
Yüz
665 m
Work of art, sculpture
1.2 kmReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes