USS Cobia

USS Cobia is a World War II Gato-class submarine permanently moored at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc. The vessel spans 312 feet (95 meters) and is divided into several compartments including torpedo rooms, engine room, crew quarters, and command center.

The submarine was launched in 1943 at Groton, Connecticut, and completed six patrols in the Pacific Ocean between 1944 and 1945. It sank 13 Japanese ships during these missions and was used for training purposes after the war before arriving in Wisconsin as a museum vessel in 1970.

The vessel serves as a memorial for the 28 submarines built at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company during the war. Guests walk through narrow passageways and see how crews worked and slept below the waterline.

Guided tours take visitors through narrow hatches and steep ladders into different sections of the vessel. Those who are physically fit and comfortable in tight spaces can navigate the full route easily.

The vessel reached its current location through the Saint Lawrence Seaway, making it one of few military ships to navigate this freshwater route. Some guests can sleep in the original crew bunks and experience a program that allows nighttime exploration of the illuminated submarine.

Location: Manitowoc

GPS coordinates: 44.09250,-87.65560

Latest update: December 9, 2025 13:10