As the Oxford Museum Press says, "The USS Cod is the last remaining WWII submarine left completely in its original condition. It is a national landmark and a very important piece of our naval and historical heritage."
USS Cod August 15, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio
Paul Farace, curator of the Cod gives a terrific brief history of the submarine on the USS Cod history page.
USS Cod (SS-224), about 40 miles south of Block Island, R.I. December 1951. US Navy photo.
Here is some basic information.
U.S.S. Cod (SS 224), named after the world's most important food fish, is a World War II era GATO class fleet submarine. The 312-ft, (95-m) 1,525-ton submarine began her life on July 21, 1942 when her keel was laid at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, Connecticut.
Cod was launched on March 21, 1943 under the sponsorship of Mrs. Grace M. Mahoney, wife of a veteran shipyard employee, and was placed in commission on June 21, 1943, under the command of CDR James C. Dempsey, USN.
Navy submarine veteran Jack Paulin on the deck of the Cod
You can see schematics, take a virtual reality tour inside the submarine and more at the USS Cod website.
Be sure to read about the Cod's seventh and final war patrol when she would carve a unique niche for herself, not for destroying enemy ships, but for performing the only international submarine-to-submarine rescue in history.
The Cod is now a museum ship in Cleveland, Ohio and is maintained and operated as a memorial to the more than 3900 submariners who lost their lives during the 100 year history of the United States Navy Submarine Force.
Remember Pearl Harbor
The public is invited to visit the boat daily between 1 May and 30 September each year.
1945 Hanson torpedo truck crane
Mark 14 Torpedo The US Navy's standard submarine-launched anti-ship torpedo of World War II.
Cod is one of the finest restored submarines on display and is the only U.S. submarine that has not had stairways and doors cut into her pressure hull for public access. Visitors to this proud ship use the same vertical ladders and hatches that were used by her crew.
Cleveland can claim partial credit as Cod's birthplace, since the submarine's five massive diesel engines were built by General Motors' Cleveland Diesel plant on Cleveland's west side.
It is worth the trip to the lakefront downtown to tour this landmark submarine. Details on hours of operation and more can be found at the Cod website.
USS Cod periscope - base
USS Cod periscope - top
Memorial to Cod veteran Howard "Doggie" Dishong
Logo of the USS Cod
US Navy submarine veteran Jack Paulin talks about his service in this short video taken at the Cod
On August 15, 2010 the USS Cod was the setting for a re-enactment of the famous V-J Day photograph of the kiss in Times Square.
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