USS Torsk — Attraction in Baltimore

This self paced tour of the USS Torsk was great. We did this after we came out of the aquarium on a whim, bought tickets on the ship with no wait. The tickets are good for 1 year if unused and they get you access to 3 ships.

No one else was in front of us or behind us so we had the vessel to ourselves! It was in incredibly good shape, well maintained with excellent signage. I’m small and I was with my son who is still under 5 feet so we were fine but if you are a large person or very tall you’re not going to be comfortable in here. And it’s a very tight space so if you are claustrophobic I would not recommend this for you.

Engine room was fascinating as were the torpedo launchers and controllers. The layout gave us a very good idea of what it was like to live onboard a vessel like this. My son loved being able to touch things and explore firsthand history onboard a warsub like this. It’s not often enough kids get to do this. Would definitely...

I recently traveled from New Jersey to visit Baltimore. Initially, my primary plan was to visit the aquarium with my family, as my son had been looking forward to it. However, while visiting the aquarium, I came across the Historic Ships attraction — something I hadn’t been aware of before. The opportunity to board historic vessels, especially a submarine, was truly exciting, as it had been a childhood dream of mine to step aboard one. The USS Torsk looked stunning from the outside, and I was filled with anticipation. Unfortunately, due to a tight budget and our commitment to the aquarium visit, I had to postpone touring the submarine this time. Although I felt a deep sense of disappointment, I am grateful for discovering this wonderful attraction and am determined to return and fulfill this dream in the...

You too will likely enjoy touring this sub, if you share my bias for big equipment, military equipment, navy vessels, American history or World War II history. If you tour the Torsk, be sure to ask any of the guides about why the ship was converted to a snorkel, and what the U.S. Navy learned from mistakes the Nazi Navy made. Also be sure to ask why the hull is V-shaped and not cylindrical? The answer provides very interesting insight into changes in how subs are used in warfare. Also ask if anything was added to the deck when the ship is in port that is removed before she leaves.

The Torsk is one of 5 different vessels you can tour at the Baltimore Harbor. You can buy a ticket for any one, or get a discount to see multiple vessels. The others looked interesting but I only had time to see...