Naval Submarine Base New London
Encyclopedia
Naval Submarine Base New London is the United States Navy
's primary submarine base
, the "Home of the Submarine Force", and "the Submarine Capital of the World".
gave the Navy 112 acres (0.5 km²) of land along the Thames River
to build a Naval Station. Due to a lack of federal funding, it was not until 1872 that two brick buildings and a "T" shaped pier were constructed and officially declared a Navy Yard. This new yard was primarily used as a coaling station by Atlantic Fleet
small craft. It is located in the towns of Groton
and Ledyard
.
On October 13, 1915, the monitor , a submarine tender
, and 4 submarine
s arrived in Groton. With the war effort in Europe and the Atlantic in full swing, additional submarines and support craft arrived the following year and the facility was named as the Navy's first Submarine Base. Although physically located in Groton, CT, the base had their main offices and housing in the larger city of New London
, hence was christened as Naval Submarine Base New London. Following World War I
, the Navy established schools and training facilities at the base.
The first diesel
-powered submarine, , was commissioned in Groton on February 14, 1912.
On January 21, 1954 the first nuclear-powered submarine, the , was launched from Groton. In 1982 the Nautilus was designated a National Historic Landmark
in Groton. It is permanently moored south of the main gate, attached to the U.S. Submarine Force Museum. Self guided tours are available to the public every day except Tuesday.
As homeport to fifteen attack submarines and neighbor to a major submarine construction yard, General Dynamics
' Electric Boat Corporation
, all Officer and Enlisted submariners with the exception of nuclear trained Electronics Technicians (ETs), Electrician's Mates (EMs), and Machinist Mates (MMs), will be stationed at Groton for training, on board an attack submarine or with a pre-commissioning crew for a new submarine. Enlisted sailors attending sub school will first go through Basic Enlisted Sub School
(BESS), an 8 week program that teaches the rigors of undersea life. BESS includes training in shoring, patching leaks and ruptured pipes, firefighting, and boat handling techniques. After BESS, sailors will either go to a boat or to follow-on schools. Schools include BMS, AUXPAC, ATT, TCNO, or an A school, depending on their rating. The A Schools housed at NAVSUBASE NLON are SECF, SCERF, AUXPAC, TM "A".
The main base occupies more than 687 acres (3 km²) plus over 530 acres (2 km²) of family housing and is homeport to fifteen attack submarines. The base also supports more than 70 tenant commands including, Commander Navy Region Northeast (CNRNE), Commander Submarine Group Two (CSG2), Naval Submarine School (NAVSUBSCOL), Naval Submarine Support Facility (NSSF), three Submarine Squadron staffs, and the housing and support facilities for more than 21,000 civilian workers, active-duty service members and their families.
recommended that the base be closed. After review, the Base Realignment and Closure
commission voted on August 24, 2005 to strike New London from the list of possible closures, thus allowing the base to remain open.
} (Inactive)
s
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
's primary submarine base
Submarine base
A submarine base is a military base that shelters submarines and their personnel.Examples of present-day submarine bases include HMNB Clyde, Île Longue , Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Naval Submarine Base New London, and Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base .The Israeli navy bases its growing submarine...
, the "Home of the Submarine Force", and "the Submarine Capital of the World".
History
In 1868, the State of ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
gave the Navy 112 acres (0.5 km²) of land along the Thames River
Thames River (Connecticut)
The Thames River is a short river and tidal estuary in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It flows south for through eastern Connecticut from the junction of the Yantic and Shetucket rivers at Norwich, to New London and Groton, which flank its mouth at the Long Island Sound.Differing from its...
to build a Naval Station. Due to a lack of federal funding, it was not until 1872 that two brick buildings and a "T" shaped pier were constructed and officially declared a Navy Yard. This new yard was primarily used as a coaling station by Atlantic Fleet
U.S. Atlantic Fleet
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
small craft. It is located in the towns of Groton
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
and Ledyard
Ledyard, Connecticut
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,687 people, 5,286 households, and 4,101 families residing in the town. The population density was 385.1 people per square mile . There were 5,486 housing units at an average density of 143.8 per square mile...
.
On October 13, 1915, the monitor , a submarine tender
Submarine tender
A submarine tender is a type of ship that supplies and supports submarines.Submarines are small compared to most oceangoing vessels, and generally do not have the ability to carry large amounts of food, fuel, torpedoes, and other supplies, nor to carry a full array of maintenance equipment and...
, and 4 submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s arrived in Groton. With the war effort in Europe and the Atlantic in full swing, additional submarines and support craft arrived the following year and the facility was named as the Navy's first Submarine Base. Although physically located in Groton, CT, the base had their main offices and housing in the larger city of New London
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, hence was christened as Naval Submarine Base New London. Following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the Navy established schools and training facilities at the base.
The first diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
-powered submarine, , was commissioned in Groton on February 14, 1912.
On January 21, 1954 the first nuclear-powered submarine, the , was launched from Groton. In 1982 the Nautilus was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in Groton. It is permanently moored south of the main gate, attached to the U.S. Submarine Force Museum. Self guided tours are available to the public every day except Tuesday.
As homeport to fifteen attack submarines and neighbor to a major submarine construction yard, General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
' Electric Boat Corporation
Electric Boat Corporation
The General Dynamics Electric Boat is a division of General Dynamics Corporation. It has been the primary builder of submarines for the United States Navy for over 100 years....
, all Officer and Enlisted submariners with the exception of nuclear trained Electronics Technicians (ETs), Electrician's Mates (EMs), and Machinist Mates (MMs), will be stationed at Groton for training, on board an attack submarine or with a pre-commissioning crew for a new submarine. Enlisted sailors attending sub school will first go through Basic Enlisted Sub School
Basic Enlisted Sub School
Basic Enlisted Submarine School is the U.S. Navy's submarine training school for enlisted sailors. Located on Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, the school is a six-week introduction to the basic theory, construction and operation of nuclear powered submarines...
(BESS), an 8 week program that teaches the rigors of undersea life. BESS includes training in shoring, patching leaks and ruptured pipes, firefighting, and boat handling techniques. After BESS, sailors will either go to a boat or to follow-on schools. Schools include BMS, AUXPAC, ATT, TCNO, or an A school, depending on their rating. The A Schools housed at NAVSUBASE NLON are SECF, SCERF, AUXPAC, TM "A".
- SECF is the combined "A" School for Sonar Technician Submarines (STS), Navigation Electronics Technician (ET NAV), and Firecontrol Technicians (FT).
- SCERF is the Submarine Communications Electronic Rating Field and it trains Communication Electronic Technicians (ET Comms) otherwise known as Radiomen.
- AUXPAC transforms new submariners into some of the finest mechanics in the U.S. Navy. TM "A" trains Torpedo's Mates (TM/MMW).
The main base occupies more than 687 acres (3 km²) plus over 530 acres (2 km²) of family housing and is homeport to fifteen attack submarines. The base also supports more than 70 tenant commands including, Commander Navy Region Northeast (CNRNE), Commander Submarine Group Two (CSG2), Naval Submarine School (NAVSUBSCOL), Naval Submarine Support Facility (NSSF), three Submarine Squadron staffs, and the housing and support facilities for more than 21,000 civilian workers, active-duty service members and their families.
Base Realignment and Closure, 2005
On May 13, 2005, the PentagonThe Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
recommended that the base be closed. After review, the Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
commission voted on August 24, 2005 to strike New London from the list of possible closures, thus allowing the base to remain open.
Homeported ships
s} (Inactive)
s
External links
- NSB New London website
- Naval Vessel Register
- U.S. Navy Submarine Force Museum — Official home of USS Nautilus (SSN-571)USS Nautilus (SSN-571)USS Nautilus is the world's first operational nuclear-powered submarine. She was the first vessel to complete a submerged transit beneath the North Pole on August 3, 1958...