Explore Bowfin Submarine & Museum
The USS Bowfin History
The USS Bowfin (SS-287) is a fleet assault submarine that served in the Pacific during WWII and is credited with popularizing the phrase "Silent Service". Bowfin began operations on 7 December 1942, precisely one year after the Pearl Harbor assault. She was dubbed the Pearl Harbor Avenger, and her permanent home is at Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i.
Between 1943 and 1945, the USS Bowfin participated in nine military missions. WWII war patrols are comparable to what we refer to as deployments nowadays. They were about two-month intervals during which a submarine patrolled a specified area of ocean for Japanese ships or boats. Bowfin operated in the Pacific, with the majority of her patrols taking place in the South China Sea, Celebes Sea, off the east coast of Japan, and into the Sea of Japan.
The USS Bowfin Present
The Pearl Harbor Memorial, the Arizona Memorial, and even the USS Bowfin Submarine are not only museums and memorials dedicated to the lives lost during World War II, but also a homage to a period in our history that forever altered our perspective on the world.
Fortunately, the USS Bowfin did not end up as scrap metal or target practice. Bowfin is one of just fifteen United States WWII submarines that escaped this fate. Today, the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park is a reality; her narrative, as well as the story of the United States Submarine Force, past and present, will live on due to the commitment and hard work of people from both the military and civilian sectors.
Plan your visit to Bowfin Submarine & Museum
The Bowfin Submarine & Museum opens daily from 7:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m, with the last ticket sold at 4:30 p.m, so make sure to get there before it’s too late. This place is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
The USS Bowfin is considered to be one of the most well-preserved and visited submarines that served in WWII. More than 9 million people have come to pay their respects at this submarine and its monument. Her service in the Navy will not be forgotten.
