Learn more about how American soldiers survived an extraordinary undersea mission to retaliate against the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.
The history of Hawaii is inextricably linked with the notorious bombardment of the U.S. military base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which caused huge loss of life and led directly to the U.S.A. joining the Second World War. Possibly less well known is that, exactly one year after the attack, the USS Bowfin was launched into the harbour as an undercover avenger. Over the course of the war the vessel succeeded in sinking 44 enemy submarines. Now there is a museum dedicated to telling its story and giving visitors an insight into the lives of the brave soldiers who manned it.Your visit starts with an audio tour of the submarine, lasting around 30 minutes. The tour is self-guided, so you can pause as often as you like, choosing your own pace. Explore the vessel’s narrow confines and get a first-hand impression of what daily life must have been like in these cramped and dangerous conditions. Among the exhibits are recruitment posters, contemporary documents, military artefacts and hardware, including a Poseidon ballistic missile which has been specially displayed to show the complex electronic circuitry which made it a revolutionary weapon of its time.Leaving behind the claustrophobia of the submarine, most people are grateful to be out in the fresh air, making the dedication of its wartime crew seem even more impressive. In the park you can view some of the larger exhibits, such as a Japanese Kaiten torpedo and various other underwater missiles, as well as pay a visit to the memorial dedicated to the brave submariners who perished here during the war.The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park are reached via a footbridge from Pearl Harbor and are open daily (except for major public holidays) on payment of an admission charge. Visitors are not allowed to take bags on board but storage lockers are available to rent.
