Inside the only nuclear missile submarine open to the public: photos

• The USS Growler is the only nuclear missile submarine in the United States open to the public.
• Commissioned in 1958, the USS Growler patrolled the coast of Russia during the Cold War.
• The submarine is now an attraction at the Intrepid Museum in New York City.

The USS Growler was once a top-secret U.S. Navy submarine that patrolled the depths of the ocean during the Cold War. Armed with nuclear missiles and piloted by a crew of 90, Growler’s firepower acted as a deterrent to prevent other nations from using their nuclear weapons in a strategy known as mutually assured destruction.

Today, the USS Growler is on display at the Intrepid Museum in New York City, housed on the USS Intrepid, a 900-foot-long World War II-era aircraft carrier. The USS Growler floats alongside in the Hudson River.

Visitors can see more than just the USS Growler; You can actually climb in and walk through the narrow spaces as part of a self-guided tour.

Submarines remain a critical part of the U.S. Navy’s deterrence strategy. In September, the guided-missile submarine USS Georgia was sent to the Middle East to show support to Israel and strength to Iran.

It’s a costly undertaking. The U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class submarine program is expected to be $17 billion over budget by 2030 due to delays. House Representative Ken Calvert, Chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, said last month. The Navy said the delays were due to supply chain issues and “ongoing impacts of COVID-19.”

In May, I visited the Intrepid Museum to see the only nuclear missile submarine in the United States open to the public. Take a look inside.