USS Drum (submarine)
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
The "USS Drum" submarine.
"USS Drum" going underwater.
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
The “USS Drum” was laid
down on September 11, 1940 but wasn't launched until May 12, 1941. This powerful machine is a Gato-class
submarine of the United States Navy. It got its name from the drum fish which can
make a drumming sound. The submarine arrived first at Pearl Harbor on April
1942. She sank three cargo ships within the next two months and spent most of
her time fighting during Pearl Harbor.
Her last battle was in progress as she was headed
toward the west for another overhaul. The journey was cut short, however,
because the Japanese surrendered in August. She continued to sail and ended up
stopping in New Hampshire. “The Drum” received twelve battle stars for the service
she gave during WWII. She sunk a total of fifteen ships in her time of duty.
“The Drum” currently resides in Mobile, Alabama
at the Battleship Memorial Park. This museum for the submarine opened July 4,
1969. She was decommissioned in February 1946. From 1967-1969 she sat withan
inactive fleet in Norfolk Virginia.
Nowadays, however, the “USS Drum” sits open to the public as it has joined as part of the larger Battleship Memorial Park, which displays a multitude of naval crafts. Tours are often done through the submarine throughout the summer, and guest are encouraged to ask about Stateside, the crew’s beloved pet dog from the war years.