USS Growler (SSG-577)

History of the Growler (SSG-577)

USS Growler (SSG-577) is a conventional diesel-powered submarine carrying nuclear cruise missiles, built and operated by the United States Navy. The Growler, the second ship in the Grayback class, was to be built in February 1955 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittry, Maine. She was launched in April 1958 and commissioned in August of that year with Lt. Col.

Charles Priest, Jr. at the helm. The Class II submarine was originally intended to be built as an attack submarine like the Dart before it, but at this time the Navy was switching to new technology, so both were upgraded to SSG during construction - this was done by adding two cylinders to the submarine Shaped pipe hangers to achieve the bow reaching the knuckle. The Growler is 54 feet longer and the Grayback is 50 feet longer.

Each bazooka is 70 feet long and 11 feet high and can hold two Regulus rockets.

USS Growler began sea trials in November 1958 at the Navy's Submarine Test Site near Shoals, a group of small islands 10 miles off the east coast of the United States, opposite New Hampshire and Maine. A normal first day is running on the water at various speeds, testing all the ship's systems, raising and lowering the mast and scope. At dawn the next day, the crew of the Growler prepared for the first deep test dive. This involves submerging the boat to periscope depth and then deeper in 50-foot increments while the crew checks all systems and sea pressure readings and accessories.

Growler passed the submarine test depth of 475 feet with distinction. After training in the Shoals, she sailed south on her trial cruise to the Roosevelt Road Naval Station, arriving in Puerto Rico on February 19, 1959.

After sea trials, she was ordered to return to Portsmouth to receive her missiles. When she returned to the Caribbean, her job was to train the crew to fire Regulus I and II missiles. The Latin name for these rockets means "little king," and Regulus is named after the heart of Leo Leo, one of the main zodiac signs.

The Regulus missile is a turbojet-powered weapon system with a barrel-shaped fuselage that looks more like a small cockpit fighter of the era. The rocket has short swept wings and a rear fin to stabilize the Regulus in flight. When the rocket is ready to launch, it needs extra lift, so it has two launchers in the rear of the fuselage.

The submarine must surface to fire the Xuanyuan missile.

Once the upper casing is free of seawater, the crew is ready to begin the time-consuming launch process, which takes 15 to 30 minutes. The watertight door will open to reveal the missile mounted on the short-track Mark 7 SR MK 7 launcher. The process is overly complicated due to automated procedures and safety control systems. Lift is controlled by limit switches to prevent the lift screw from overextending on the track.

The missile is removed from the tube and secured to the Mark 7 launch pad, which is mounted between the sail and the tube door. Before launch, the rocket is rotated so that the booster afterburner is pointed toward the sea on the side of the ship, and the rocket is pointed at the 10 o'clock position on the bow side.

The crew welcomed the modification of the rocket launch equipment. The aileron launchers originally designed to fire the Regulus I and II missiles were removed and replaced with a launcher that simply switched to one of the two missile hangars. Many microswitches and hydraulics were omitted, greatly simplifying the operation of the turret and making the turret more reliable.

Growler completed her refit in early December 1961. By December 1963, the Growler had conducted nine such deterrent mission patrols, the fourth ending in Yokosuka, Japan on April 24, 1962, and was used by the Navy to demonstrate their newest weapon, allowing everyone to can be seen - especially in the Soviet Union.

The Growler's most high-profile mission occurred during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The Navy was about to deploy Polaris SSBN submarines, but as history unfolded, they weren't ready in time. Deterring the Soviets with their nukes fell on Regulus-armed ships.

For 14 days, the Growler was on alert, with all 4 missiles armed and ready to launch. Growler sweats profusely as he waits for the command to turn, but all hands are relieved on the 14th

The Growler left Adak, Alaska, on July 23, 1962, for Pearl Harbor the next day. Lieutenant Commander Gunn, now the executive officer, carried a battle flag that read "Crew in Black and Blue, No Relief Required". She returned to Pearl Harbor.

Clary noticed the flag on the pole and asked Henderson if that really meant it. Henderson replied that it was, and that he and his crew were proud of the blue and gold dual-crew system they did not need, nor were designated by the Navy, for the Polaris submarine. Growler received the ComSubPac Unit Commendation on both the fourth and fifth patrols.

On June 1, 1963, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Owens relieved Henderson. Growler performed two other deterrent missions under his command. In 1964, with the docking of the Polaris ship, it was decided to retire USS Growler and USS Grayback.

Both ships sailed to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California, and were decommissioned together in May 1964.

After decommissioning, the Growler was placed in an idle reserve fleet at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington. She was anchored there for 25 years and is seen as a consumable part of the annual Navy budget. Therefore, it is planned to use her as a torpedo test target for other nuclear attack submarines. Mr. Zachary Fisher of New York requested possession of the ship, so Growler was allowed to become part of the Intrepid Sea and Air Museum in New York City by an August 1988 act of Congress.

In early 1989, the Growler was towed 6,000 nautical miles from Puget Sound through the San Juan de Fuca Channel. After crossing the Channel, Growler was towed to a civilian shipyard on Florida's west coast.

While at the shipyard, the Growler received external and internal hull modifications of the missile bay and fuselage. These changes were made to allow visitors to enter the museum. On April 18, 1989, Growler docked on the north side of Pier 86 on the Hudson River, her last "home port."

In 2007 it was determined that the hull was rusted. This inevitably complicates things and pushes repair costs to over $1 million. The Growler returned to Pier 86 in late February, and in the spring of 2009 in time for Fleet Week in May.

Regulus' SSG served during the toughest times of the Cold War, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, providing a defensive barrier to the U.S. Pacific coast.

Before the Tomahawk, Trident, and Polaris armed ballistic missile submarines, Regulus-equipped ships patrolled 365 days a year to protect the United States.

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