USS Thornback / TCG Uluçalireis

USS Thornback is a Tench-class submarine measuring 95 meters (311 feet) in length that now rests along the Golden Horn waterfront. The forward torpedo tubes remain in place, as do the navigation instruments in the command center.

The submarine entered service in October 1944 and reached the Pacific near the end of World War II. After the war, it operated in the Caribbean and Mediterranean before being decommissioned.

The vessel reveals through its preserved radio rooms and engine parts how American naval forces communicated and navigated during the Cold War era. Visitors see in the narrow passageways how little space the men aboard had for daily routines.

The museum allows access to several decks and compartments through ladders and low passages. Flat shoes work best, and expect limited space in the corridors.

The submarine carried out its final combat action on July 31, 1945, when it damaged a Japanese ship with deck guns. This attack took place just days before Japan surrendered.

Location: İstanbul

Inception: January 1, 1944

Reference: S338

Website: http://rmk-museum.org.tr/rmk_denizalti.htm

GPS coordinates: 41.04150,28.94780

Latest update: December 9, 2025 13:10