The Deadliest American Submarine of WWII is Now a Mighty Museum in Alabama

The USS Drum (SS-228), Alabama

You’re looking at the USS Drum (SS-228), a Gato-class submarine that served in the United States Navy during World War II.

She was named after the drum fish, which could make drumming sounds.

Laid down on September 11, 1940, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, and launched on May 12, 1941, she was the first completed submarine of the Gato class to enter combat in World War II.

The Drum completed 13 official war patrols in the Pacific and earned 12 battle stars for her service.

Today, she is the oldest American submarine on public display, preserved as a museum ship at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama.

This is her remarkable story.

First American Submarine to Sink a Japanese Aircraft Carrier

On May 2, 1942, during her first war patrol, USS Drum took down the Japanese seaplane tender Mizuho off Japan’s coast near coordinates 34°26’N, 138°14’E.

This 10,930-ton ship could carry about 24 seaplanes, making it an important target.

After this attack, Drum had to withstand a brutal 16-hour depth charge attack, with about 31 explosives dropped by Japanese forces, but still managed to escape without damage.

This victory marked the beginning of Drum’s impressive combat record.

Surviving a 22-Hour Underwater Ordeal

After hitting the Mizuho in May 1942, USS Drum had to stay underwater for an amazing 22 hours while Japanese ships hunted for her.

During this stressful time, the submarine’s crew needed to stay completely quiet while depth charges exploded around them.

Even with draining battery power and limited air, the crew showed incredible patience and discipline.

The Japanese finally gave up their search, allowing Drum to surface, recharge batteries, and let her tired crew rest.

Successful Torpedo Attack on Aircraft Carrier Ryuho

On December 12, 1942, during her fourth war patrol, USS Drum boldly attacked the Japanese aircraft carrier Ryuho.

Though the submarine was leaking water because of broken valves, Lieutenant Commander Bernard F. McMahon decided to fire torpedoes from four front tubes (the other two contained mines for another mission).

The sub scored at least one direct hit, making the carrier tilt so badly that you could see its entire flight deck.

This damage forced the carrier to limp back to Japan for repairs, keeping it out of the war for several months.

Executing a Dangerous Mine-Laying Mission

During her fourth patrol (November 29, 1942 – January 24, 1943), USS Drum was tasked to place mines in the busy Bungo Suido strait, between the Japanese islands of Kyushu and Shikoku.

This was an incredibly dangerous job, because it was a key waterway for the Japanese naval movement.

The crew completed the mission on December 17, 1942 without being detected.

Sinking the Japanese Submarine Tender Hie Maru

On November 17, 1943, during her eighth war patrol under Lieutenant Commander Delbert F. Williamson, USS Drum successfully attacked the Japanese submarine depot ship Hie Maru.

The attack happened in rough seas north-northwest of New Ireland. This massive 11,621-ton vessel was a major loss for Japanese submarine operations in the Pacific.

Surviving Structural Damage from Depth Charging

After attacking a convoy on November 22, 1943, USS Drum faced a heavy depth charge attack that caused serious damage.

The explosions cracked the submarine’s conning tower plating, letting water leak in at about two to three gallons per minute when underwater.

This damage cut her eighth patrol short, forcing the submarine to return to Pearl Harbor and then travel to Mare Island Navy Yard for a new conning tower.

Receiving a Stronger Conning Tower Upgrade

At Mare Island Navy Yard in California, workers installed a new, tougher Balao-class “thick hull” conning tower to replace her damaged Gato-class tower.

This change made Drum special among submarines of her type, creating a mix-and-match vessel with better strength for the rest of her combat service.

Gathering Important Intelligence Information

During her ninth patrol (April 9 – May 31, 1944), USS Drum did vital scouting around Iwo Jima and other islands in the Bonin chain.

While she didn’t find many targets to attack during this mission, the submarine collected valuable information that helped American forces plan the invasion of Iwo Jima.

Capturing Japanese Prisoners During Special Operations

During her tenth patrol in summer 1944, USS Drum provided rescue services for American air raids on Yap and Palau.

On July 29, 1944, the submarine sank a 125-ton Japanese boat.

In an unusual event for submarine warfare, Drum’s crew captured two Japanese prisoners from the vessel, bringing them back to Pearl Harbor on August 14, potentially gaining useful intelligence.

Triple Success During the Battle for Leyte Gulf

USS Drum had one of her most successful combat periods during the Leyte Gulf operations in late October 1944.

On October 26, 1944, Drum spotted a 13-ship Japanese convoy (10 merchant ships with 3 escorts) trying to bring reinforcements to Japanese forces in the Philippines.

In an impressive display of fighting skill, the submarine sank three ships in this single attack: the passenger-cargo ships Taihaku Maru (6,886 tons) and Taisho Maru (6,886 tons), plus the transport ship Tatsura Maru (6,420 tons).

She also damaged a fourth ship, the Aoki Maru (3,710 tons), in this same attack.

The USS Drum’s Final War Patrol

USS Drum’s thirteenth patrol from February to April 1945 marked her final completed combat mission.

Following this, she went to Hunters Point in San Francisco for modernization.

Workers upgraded her armament with two 5-inch deck guns, replacing her previous single 4-inch gun.

Drum also received improved SV radar on its own mast, replacing the older SD system. Her SJ radar was relocated aft of the periscope shears for better performance.

She left San Francisco on July 11, 1945 with these new modifications.

Drum began what would have been her fourteenth patrol on July 21 from Midway. Japan’s surrender in mid-August ended this patrol prematurely.

The submarine then went to Saipan before returning to the United States.

Ending a Long and Mighty Career

The Navy decommissioned USS Drum on February 16, 1946 after her exceptional war service. She was officially credited with sinking 15 Japanese ships totaling over 80,000 tons.

These achievements earned her 12 battle stars and ranked her eighth among all U.S. submarines for Japanese tonnage sunk.

From Decorated Warship to World-Class Museum

On March 18, 1947, Drum began a new role training Naval Reservists in Washington, D.C. She was reclassified as an Auxiliary Research Submarine (AGSS-228) on December 1, 1962.

In 1969, the USS Alabama Battleship Commission acquired Drum. She arrived at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile on May 18, 1969. Drum opened to the public on July 4, 1969, becoming America’s first submarine museum.

In 1986, she was designated a National Historic Landmark

Exploring the USS Drum Today

You get to walk inside one of the oldest American submarine on public display as you explore USS Drum.

She’s still remarkably intact, and you can see first-hand what the 72-person crew (and their pet dog Stateside) endured during wartime.

The submarine tour follows a one-way path with clearly marked sections. The sub has good headspace, allowing you to walk straight through without sidesteping.

If you have claustrophobia, be aware that once inside, you must follow the complete route to exit.

What You’ll See Inside USS Drum

As a National Historic Landmark, the USS Drum preserves the environment where submariners lived and fought.

You’ll see the torpedo rooms, control room, engine compartments, and cramped sleeping quarters.

The self-guided tour includes informative displays about the submarine’s 13 war patrols. Throughout the vessel, exhibits honor the 52 submarines and 3,600 submariners lost during WWII.

Look for stories about “Stateside,” the crew’s pet dog who served aboard during wartime. Historical photographs show the 311-foot vessel in action during the Pacific campaign.

The submarine sits in a permanent cradle on land, making it easier to view its full exterior compared to floating vessels.

Visiting the USS Drum

USS Drum is located at Battleship Memorial Park, Battleship Parkway in Mobile Bay, Alabama.

The park is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except on certain holidays.

Admission prices as of 2025: Ages 12+ $15.00, Ages 6-11 $6.00, Under 6 free, Seniors (55+) $13.00. There’s an additional $4 parking fee per vehicle.

Plan to visit the USS Alabama battleship and Aircraft Pavilion during your visit—they’re included in your admission.

Tours are self-guided, and photography is permitted throughout the submarine.

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