Honolulu in Honolulu County, Hawaii — Hawaiian Island Archipelago (Pacific Ocean)
A Legacy of Service
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, November 26, 2025
1. A Legacy of Service Marker
Bowfin's career in the U.S. Navy continued long after WWII. She served during the Korean War, and later on as a Naval Reserve training submarine.
Bowfin returned to Pearl Harbor in 1972, and eventually became a museum ship. One of few remaining WWII submarines, Bowfin pays tribute to the 52 submarines and more than 3,500 submariners lost during WWII, and reminds us all of the sacrifices made.
A Short History
Bowfin launched 7 December 1942
Commissioning Ceremony: 1 May 1945
WWII Completed nine war patrols: 945-1945
Active service during the Korean War 1951-1953
Naval Reserve training submarine, South 1960-1971
Inactive Ship Facility Pearl Harbor: 1972-1979
Donated by US Navy to the Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association: 1 August 1979
Opened to the public in Pearl Harbor: 1 April 1981
Named a National Landmark 1986
Bowfin welcomed her 11 millionth visitor: 2024
Visitors on a tour of Bowfin get a sense of how confined yet efficient the space was aboard a Balao-class submarine.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 21° 22.126′ N,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is on Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor and Historic West Oahu. Globally, it is in North America, Polynesia, the Pacific Ocean, North Pacific, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mark 14 Torpedo (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Bowfin (SS287) (a few steps from this marker); MK 14 Exercise Torpedo (a few steps from this marker); USS Bowfin (SS-287) WWII Fleet Submarine (a few steps from this marker); Lost Submarine Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Mark 14: Early Failures (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Mark 14 Torpedo (a few steps from this marker); 3"/50 Deck Gun (a few steps from
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, November 26, 2025
2. A Legacy of Service Marker
Another marker is no longer nearby. Mark 14 Steam-Driven Torpedo (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 45 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 24, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
