USS Cod, Cleveland

In the summer of 1945, during the waning days of World War II, a feat of heroism took place in the waters of the Gulf of Siam. That's where the crew of the USS Cod, a Gato-class submarine under the command of the US Navy, performed the first (and, to this day, only) international sub-to-sub rescue, saving the crew of a Dutch submarine that had run aground on a treacherous reef. This milestone is still celebrated aboard the sub today; now a floating museum in Cleveland's North Coast Harbor, the sub gives self-guided tour groups a glimpse into the most celebrated era of American military history. Read on to learn more:

• Sub specs: The USS Cod is 312 feet long and weighs 1,500 tons. During its war service, it carried a crew of 97 men, as well as 24 torpedoes packed with 15,000 pounds of explosives.
• Wartime feats: In addition to its celebrated rescue, the Cod was also responsible for sinking more than 36,000 tons of Axis shipping.
• Cleveland connection: The sub's five diesel generators were built in Cleveland and have been restored to full operation.