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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski
Radio Call Sign: November - Juliet - Bravo - Hotel

Growler (SSG-577)


Grayback Class Submarine: Laid down, 15 February 1955, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME.; Launched, 5 April 1958; Commissioned, USS Growler (SSG-577), 30 August 1958; Decommissioned, 25 May 1964, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Mare Island Group; Struck from the Naval Register, 30 September 1980; Final Disposition, on permanent display, 29 September 1988, as a museum ship, Intrepid Park, New York, NY.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced, 2,670 t. Submerged, 3,650; Length 317'; Beam 25'; Test Depth 700': Complement 9 Officers, 75 Enlisted; Armament, four Regulus I missiles, or two Regulus II missiles, or two Regulus Is and one Regulus II, six 21" torpedo tubes, one Regulus launcher; Propulsion, diesel-electric, twin propellers.
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SizeImage DescriptionSource
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727k Being readied for launching, at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, New Hampshire, 5 April 1958. View of port side of bow poppet of Growler (SSG-577). Photo NH-53791 courtesy history.navy.mil
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627k View of the launching ways at the launching, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, New Hampshire, just prior to Growler's (SSG-577) launching, 5 April 1958.Photo NH-53799 courtesy history.navy.mil
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799k Growler (SSG-577) being readied for launching, at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, New Hampshire, 5 April 1958.Photo NH-53789 courtesy history.navy.mil
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727k Left to Right: Captain Warren C. Hall, Jr., Mrs. Hall, Matron of Honor, Mrs. Robert L. Moore, Jr., Rear Admiral Robert L. Moore, Jr., Commander of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Mrs. Albert G. Mumma, Mrs. Robert K. Byerts, sponsor, and Rear Admiral A. G. Mumma, chief of Buships, who delivered the principal address at the launching, of Growler (SSG-577), 5 April 1958 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, New Hampshire. Photo NH-53797 courtesy history.navy.mil
Grayback467kMrs. Robert K. Byerts, widow of Comdr. Thomas B. Oakley, Jr., who commanded the third Growler (SS-215) on her 9th, 10th, and fatal 11th war patrols sponsors the new Growler (SSG-577) on the launching ways on 5 April 1958 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME.Text courtesy of DANFS.
Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Grayback870kThe Growler (SSG-577) on the launching ways on 5 April 1958 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME.Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
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558k Mrs. Robert K. Byerts christening the Growler (SSG-577). Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Grayback1.20kThe Growler (SSG-577) slides down the launching ways on 5 April 1958 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME.USN photo # USN 1039790, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
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NR ANOTHER MISSILE-LAUNCHING SUB
The Growler (SSG-577), the Navy's latest submarine to launch and direct missiles, is commissioned at a colorful ceremony at the Naval shipyard at Portsmouth, N. H. The Growler is the second sub deisgned to launch both Regulus I and Regulus II missiles. Its prospective commanding officer is Lt. Comdr. Charles Priest, Jr., USN.
AP Wirephoto.
PDF Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 31 August 1958, Image 7 via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Grayback172kStern view of the Growler (SSG-577) on 28 November 1958.USN photo # USN 1039790, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Growler226kGrowler (SSG-577), cut out detailing her Regulus missile and launcher guise, circa 1959-60.Courtesy of Nick Spark.
Growler920kGrowler (SSG-577) looking over her bulbous missile hanger, underway, with a Regulus missile in the launcher pod. Circa 1959-60.Courtesy of Nick Spark.
Growler17kGrowler (SSG-577) launching a Regulus missile at sea, circa 1959-60.Courtesy of Nick Spark.
Growler43kGrowler (SSG-577) with a Regulus missile and launcher appearing in front of the sail, circa 1959-60.Courtesy of Nick Spark.
Growler177kGrowler (SSG-577) with a Regulus missile and launcher appearing in front of the sail, circa 1959-60.Courtesy of Nick Spark.
Growler170kGrowler (SSG-577) in her Regulus missile and launcher guise, circa 1959-60.Courtesy of Nick Spark.
Growler & Grayback76kGrayback (SSG-574) and Growler (SSG-577) alongside each other at Mare Island shortly before both boats were decommissioned on 25 May 1964 and were placed in reserve. Photo courtesy of Robert Hurst. Photo i.d. courtesy of Darryl L. Baker
Grayback497kGrayback (SSG-574) and Growler (SSG-577) alongside each other.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Regulus Deterrent Patrols1.30kRegulus Deterrent Patrols by the following submarines from September 1959 to July 1964:
Tunny (SSG-282),
Barbero (SSG-317),
Grayback (SSG-574),
Growler (SSG-577),&
Halibut (SSGN-587).
Photograph courtesy of Ron Phillipi.
Growler464kTransfer at sea between the Growler (SSG-577) to Barbero (SSG-317), circa 1959-60.Photograph courtesy of Ron Phillipi.
Growler71kOil on canvas by the artist John Meeks entitled Growler (SSG-577). Photo & text courtesy of subart.net.
Growler94kGrowler (SSG-577), underway, port side view, circa early 60's. Courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Growler4.12k Aerial photo of the Mare Island Reserve Fleet taken 25 November 1966 shown Growler (SSG-577), six old fleet boats, Bass (SSK-2), Bonita (SSK-3), Grayback (SSG-574) and another fleet boat. The Pelias (AS-14) is the sub tender located with the submarines. Photograph courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Growler133kStern view of the Growler (SSG-577) underway. USN photo courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Growler 145k Bow view of an unknown Guppy, approximately 1970 at Mare Island. The boat to the left of the Guppy is the Growler (SSG-577). The boat to the right of the Guppy most likely Raton (SSR-270). Other ships identifiable in the background are the Canberra (CA-70), Litchfield County (LST-901), and Sedgwick County (LST-1123). Text info courtesy of David Johnston
USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Growler
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1.15kSail of the Growler (SSG-577), 3 March 1971 in the Inactive Reserve Fleet at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Other than LST 1123 & LST 901, the destroyers, destroyer escorts and submarines are unknown. I had no luck finding a list of the ships in the reserve at Mare Island. USN photo # MINSY 102739-3-71, from the files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Growler219kIn 1988, my father-in-law was in the ocean transport business based in Tampa, Florida. He had many friends and business associates at Tampa Shipyard. One day I got a call from him and he told me that we had a sub in at the shipyard, and would I like to go and see her. Of course I said yes. The Growler (SSG-577) had just been towed in the other day and no work had been done on her yet. We were able to tour her topside and below decks. As I recall, there was no power attached to the boat; we entered the interior of the sub with hard hats and hand held flashlights. The conditions made interior pictures impossible. With all that said, here is a 6 photo PDF as well as an interior photo of the bow.Photos courtesy of Jay Milewski.
Growler80kThe Tugboat Hackensack (YTM-750) pushing the Ex-Growler (SSG-577) up to the Intrepid Museum in 1988. Fresh from the refit at Tampa Ship. Photo courtesy US Navy, ussnewyork.com & subpride via Scott Koen.
Growler248kThe Tugboat Hackensack (YTM-750) pushing the Ex-Growler (SSG-577) up to the Intrepid Museum in 1988. Fresh from the refit at Tampa Ship. Photo courtesy US Navy, ussnewyork.com & subpride via Scott Koen.
Growler83kShip Dry Dock flooding.Photos courtesy US Navy, ussnewyork.com & subpride via Scott Koen.
Growler378kIntrepid Museum complex 1996; Intrepid (CVA-11), Growler (SSG-577), Slater, Edson, Tamaroa, Nantucket, Hackensack.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Growler79kGrowler (SSG-577), at Intrepid Park, New York, circa post 1988.Courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Growler131kGrowler (SSG-577) control room passageway, circa post 1988.Courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Growler78kGrowler (SSG-577) forward torpedo room, circa post 1988. Courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Growler266k Growler (SSG-577) and the Intrepid (CV-11) moored at N.Y. City harbor, 2006. Photo courtesy of Michael Carey.
Growler80kThe Growler (SSG-577) being tugged up the East River 25 September 2009, on its way to GMD Shipyard Corp. facilities at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The Growler is in dry dock for a hull scrape, some minor exterior repairs and a full, historically accurate paint job that will see the sides painted grey and the top painted black. Photo courtesy of Jen Carlson & gothamist.com via thesubreport.com.

View the Growler (SSG-577)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Regulus; U.S. Navy's first nuclear missile submarines.

USS Growler SSG-577
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