The
California Military MuseumPOC: Mark J. Denger
Phone: (818)240-1775; Email: Permit1@Flash.net
America's submarine service has come a long way in 100 years. The first U.S. Navy submarine was the HOLLAND, purchased on April 11, 1900. For the past 100 years America's intrepid submariners have risked their lives beneath the sea day and night, for weeks and months at a time, to keep our country safe from any foreign threat. Dubbed the "Silent Service," for the most part their service has been unseen and unheralded. But that will not be the case on April 11, 2000.
To celebrate the 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. SUBMARINE FORCE, the U.S. Postal Service has commissioned five different postage stamps designs to commemorate 100 years of submarine development and service. The first of these stamps will be of the submarine USS HOLLAND (SS-1), the Navy's first submarine. The second stamp, an S-CLASS submarine, used in the 1920s and ‘30s as a series of developmental platforms shows the advancements in technology and size that occurred after HOLLAND. The third stamp will be of the legendary GATO-CLASS submarine which represents the contributions that submarines made to American naval superiority in the Pacific during World War II. The fourth submarine stamp will be of a LOS ANGELES-CLASS nuclear attack submarine, which serves as the backbone of today's U.S. submarine fleet. The fifth and final stamp in the series will be of an OHIO-CLASS submarine, representing an ever present deterrent to possible military aggression.
As the name-sake city of the fourth Naval ship to bear the name Los Angeles, the LOS ANGELES MARITIME MUSEUM, the largest Maritime Museum on the Pacific Coast, has been selected as the host site for the SUBMARINE CENTENNIAL PICTORIAL CANCELLATION AND UNVEILING CEREMONY primarily because of the city's historical connection to the U.S. Navy and Submarine Force. The LOS ANGELES MARITIME MUSEUM is also the official host site for the city's SUBMARINE CENTENNIAL EXHIBIT.
During the early period of Submarine development, the U.S. Navy established its first Submarine Base on the Pacific Coast in San Pedro. The entrance to the Port of Los Angeles is through two openings in the breakwater that protect San Pedro Bay. The eastern opening (closest to the Queen Mary) is called "Queen's Gate" and the western opening, which is used primarily for access to the Port of Los Angeles is called "Angels Gate". The surrounding area was made a military reservation in 1888 and was dedicated to the defense of the expanding harbor. It was during this early period of Los Angeles' history that San Pedro became the site of the first Submarine Base on the Pacific Coast.
With due acknowledgment of the accomplishment of America's submarine designers and builders, past and present, much of the progress made in the development of the modern submarine can be credited to those early submariners who, from the time of their inception –shortly after the turn of the century –up to and including World War I, served on those early Pacific Coast submarines stationed in San Pedro.
Beginning with first "F" CLASS submarines of the 1910s –those valiant, unsung heroes stationed in San Pedro learned and operated their undersea craft the hard way. By trial and error, by experimenting and improving, by demanding better design and equipment in subsequent classes built, these officers and men contributed in a major way toward producing the "S" CLASS submarines of World War I.
San Pedro, home to America's largest harbor and one of the World's most prosperous ports, was annexed as part of the city of Los Angeles in 1909. Located just a few yards away from the former site of the Navy's first Submarine Base, the LOS ANGELES MARITIME MUSEUM is located in the historic Los Angeles Municipal Ferry Building. Between 1941 and 1963 thousands of cars, trucks and workers passed through the building each day on their way to the shipyards of Terminal Island where many of the World War II vintage GATO-CLASS submarines eventually ended their gallant careers and were scrapped after the war. Today, some fifty years later, only remnants of these formidable GATO-class submarines can be found proudly displayed in the "Brass Room" of the museum.
The LOS ANGELES MARITIME MUSEUM proudly displays many of the artifacts which once belonged to the first, second and third naval ships to bear the city's name Los Angeles as well. Among these are relics from the heavy cruiser USS LOS ANGELES (CA-135) such as the ship's bell, a portion of the heavy cruiser's bow, mast, anchors, mooring bits, and capstan cover which are proudly displayed in the front of the Museum's building or in the adjacent Maritime Memorial Park, the home of the USS LOS ANGELES NAVAL MONUMENT –dedicated "to the Personnel and Ships of the United States Navy,"
Today, the fourth Naval ship to bear the name USS LOS ANGELES (SSN-688), dubbed the Navy's "First and Finest," is the lead ship of the largest class of high speed nuclear powered attack submarines in the Navy's arsenal. The LOS ANGELES was launched on April 6, 1974 at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia. Her sponsor was the Honorable Anne L. Armstrong, counselor to then President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. The LOS ANGELES was commissioned on November 13, 1976 and after completing numerous sea trials associated with every new class of submarine, on May 27, 1977, hosted President Jimmy Carter for an at-sea demonstration of the capabilities of the nation's newest attack submarine. Today, even though the LOS ANGELES recently passed her 20th birthday, following an extensive 31 month overhaul in March 1995, she returned to the fleet as one of the most modern and capable submarines in the Navy –equipped with the latest, state-of-the-art components and weaponry.
The distinguished history of each of these naval ships are being displayed and preserved for future generations as part of the city's SUBMARINE CENTENNIAL EXHIBIT so that their historical role and significance in the history of the U.S. Navy will continue to honor the city of Los Angeles –as does the fourth naval ship to bear the name –USS LOS ANGELES (SSN-688).
The city of Los Angeles, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy's Naval Recruiting District-Los Angeles, Commander Submarine Force-U.S. Pacific Fleet, United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated, U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II, Naval Submarine League and Navy League of the United States, invite you to take part in the official unveiling of these five different stamps in a special SUBMARINE CENTENNIAL PICTORIAL CANCELLATION AND UNVEILING CEREMONY to be held at the LOS ANGELES MARITIME MUSEUM in San Pedro, California, at 10:00 a.m., on 11 April, 2000. While there, visit the city's SUBMARINE CENTENNIAL EXHIBIT now on display in the LOS ANGELES MARITIME MUSEUM.
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The U.S. Navy Submarines Centennial Stamps which make up America's first-ever Prestige Commemorative Mint Stamp Book were illustrated by artist James Griffiths of Glenview, Illinois and art director Carl Herrman of Carlsbad, California. The Prestige Commemorative Mint Stamp Booklet will feature color photographs, an authoritative historical text plus two sets of the U.S. Navy Submarine Centennial Stamps. The prestige booklet and the separate pane of 33-cent stamps will be available in Groton on March 27. Beginning March 28, the pane of 33-cent stamps will be available at post offices nationwide. The Prestige Booklets will be available only at selected postal events, philatelic centers, Postal Stores and via mail order only.
To see images of the stamps visit www.usps.com/news, open this news release (#00-014) and click on the link to the stamp images. To order other U.S. stamps and philatelic items, go to www.stampsonline.com or call toll-free 1 800 STAMP-24. Without a doubt, this stunning Prestige Commemorative Mint Stamp Booklet is destined to become a cherished heirloom.
Noted pictorial designer Mario Cruz has been commissioned to design the Pictorial Cancellation honoring the Submarine Centennial. United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated has also authorized a series of six limited edition stamp cachets to be created by cachet artists Michael Mendoza and Florence "Via" Villasenor which will commemorate the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Submarine Force. Each cachet will feature one of the five stamp designs depicting the different periods in submarine technology. A sixth will honor all those who have served in Submarines. $1 from the proceeds of each cachet purchased will go to help fund the U.S. SUBMARINE VETERANS WWII MEMORIAL HIGHWAY sign project.
CAPT John J. Schwanz, USN, Commander Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet Representative West Coast will be joined by Mr. William Almaraz, United States Postal Service, District Manager, Long Beach Distribution Center and Ms. Patty Torres, Postmaster, San Pedro, as our guest speakers.
The museum is located at Berth 84, at the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Sixth Streets, in San Pedro, California. >From the freeways, take 110 South [Harbor Freeway] to the Harbor Boulevard off ramp, and turn right onto Harbor Boulevard