The USS Pampanito is a World War II submarine moored at Pier 45, now a museum ship and National Historic Landmark. You can climb through the cramped interior and see the torpedo tubes, the periscope, the galley, and the tiny bunks where 80 men lived for months at a time. It is a vivid, claustrophobic glimpse into submarine warfare.
The Pampanito earned six battle stars and sank six Japanese ships. Its most remarkable story involves accidentally torpedoing a transport carrying Allied POWs, then returning days later to rescue survivors from the water. The audio tour brings these stories to life. Groups can even book an overnight stay sleeping in the crew's bunks.