USS Torsk

The USS Torsk is a Tench-class submarine built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Today it serves as a museum ship in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The vessel was laid down at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in 1944 and commissioned the same year. During its two combat patrols off the Japanese coast, the Torsk sank several enemy ships, including a coastal defense vessel on August 14, 1945. That made it the last U.S. Navy submarine to sink an enemy ship in World War II, shortly before Japan announced its surrender. For these achievements, the boat received two battle stars. After the war, the Torsk served mainly as a training ship, carried out deployments in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, and took part in the blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

As a museum ship, the Torsk was transferred to the state of Maryland in 1972 and moored in Baltimore. Today it is part of the fleet of Historic Ships in Baltimore and lies next to the National Aquarium. Visitors can tour the submarine and learn about its history. The volunteer group Torsk Volunteer Association works closely with the operators to restore and preserve the ship. In 1986, the Torsk was designated a National Historic Landmark. It is one of only two surviving submarines of this class in the United States and an important part of the Baltimore National Heritage Area.