Albacore – Tuna or Submarine?

It’s actually both! While visiting southern Maine we took a 20-minute drive down to Portsmouth, NH, not only to enjoy the local brewery, but to get a little history lesson by visiting the United States Ship Albacore (AGSS 569) located in Albacore Park – 600 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801 to be exact.

For $7.00 per person you can take a self guided audio tour through the submarine. At designated stops throughout the USS ABACORE you will find small red buttons, when pushed, facts and stories about the submarine are told by members that crewed the vessel. You can take as little or as much time as you would like exploring and the gentlemen running the park is more than happy to answer any of your questions (at least he was for us).

A few fun facts (that we thought were interesting):

• The USS ABACORE was the first Navy-designed vessel with a cylindrical shape underwater hull that has become the standard for submarines today.
• It was built at the Portsmouth Navel Shipyard and 10 years after it was retired in 9/1/1972, Bill Keefe, Portsmouth City Councilman, launched an effort to have it returned to Portsmouth, NH to be permanently on display. After several meetings and a lot of paperwork it was finally set on a concrete cradle at Albacore Park on 10/2/1985.
• The USS ABACORE served from 1953 to 1972 but its main mission was purely experimental. It never went to war it was used for various inventive concepts like sonar equipment, testing control systems, dive brakes, etc. The vessels motto was ‘Praenuntius Futuri’ Forerunner of the Future.
• Build in similar shape to the albacore tuna it was the fastest and most maneuverable submarine of its day.

If you would like to learn more about the USS ALBACORE (AGSS 569) check out their link here or check out our video above.

Know of any fun educational spots or museums? Let us know, we would love to check them out along our travels.