California State Military
DepartmentCalifornia State Military
DepartmentOne hundred years ago on a sunny April day, American naval officials watched a submarine submerge and surface in the Potomac River between Fort Washington, Md., and Mount Vernon, Va.
Designed by John Holland, this submarine, the "Holland VI," became the first successful U.S. submarine and inspired the powerful undersea fighting force that would contribute so much to the U.S. victory in World War II and play a prominent role in the outcome of the Cold War.
Submariners throughout the year 2000 will commemorate the centennial of the U.S. Submarine force with local, regional and national ceremonies around the country. Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig christened the centennial year by authorizing all U.S. submarines and submarine tenders to fly a submarine centennial flag in place of the traditional U.S. Navy Jack. This is the first time since 1775 that specific classes of ship are flying a special jack. The Submarine Centennial Jack honors the contribution of the many brave men and women who have served with and supported our Submarine Force in the last century.
The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History will open a Cold War era submarine exhibition on April 12, entitled "Fast Attacks and Boomers: Submarines in the Cold War." The Smithsonian exhibition provides an interactive opportunity for the public to understand how submariners lived and what role they played in the Cold War.
Many commemorative Centennial events are planned for local, regional and national observances. These events are sponsored by the Navy or by other groups including the Submarine Centennial National Commemorative Committee, which represents the membership of the Naval Submarine League, SubVets of WWII, and U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc.
On March 27, the U.S. Post Office (USPS) commemorated the anniversary by issuing a series of five stamps that represent major milestones in U.S. submarine development of the last 100 years. In a philatelic first, USPS included the stamps in a "prestige booklet" detailing the history of U.S. submarines.
In celebrating the submarine centennial, our Navy recognizes the enormous contributions of American submariners, their families and those involved with building and supporting our innovative submarines since the dawn of the 20th century. A quick review of the century of silent service:
In the early years, American submarine pioneers developed new submarines that improved markedly in size and capability. Diesel engines and many other improvements were incorporated and refined. In the 1930s the U.S. Navy finally selected large 1,500 ton "fleet boats" as the optimum submarine design, developing an operational doctrine based upon long range independent reconnaissance and attack that would pay dividends during the Pacific War.
During World War II, our Submarine Force, comprising less than two percent of the U.S. Navy's fleet, wreaked havoc on Japanese maritime power. U.S. submarines sank over 30 percent of the Japanese Navy including eight aircraft carriers, one battleship and 11 cruisers. More importantly, the Submarine Force sank 2,400 Japanese merchant ships totaling 4.9 million tons -- fully 60 percent of the Empire's total merchant ship losses.
Such losses gutted Japanese industrial power and effectively eliminated the ability of the Japanese to sustain combat forces forward and replace combat losses of ships and aircraft. But such victory came with a heavy price. Of the 16,000 U.S. men serving in submarines during WWII, 3,506 submariners were lost. These men and the 52 submarines in which they served remain on Eternal Patrol.
From the 1950's on, the U.S. Submarine Force made impressive strides in capability, harnessing new technologies at a remarkable pace. Under the leadership of Adm. Hyman Rickover, submarine borne nuclear power was conceived and engineered into USS Nautilus (SSN 571) --creating the first true submarine. Aided by the "tear drop" hull design and advances in submarine quieting, the nuclear-powered Fast Attack Submarine (SSN) possessed the power, endurance and agility to become the premier Anti-Submarine Warfare combatant. Under the direction of Vice Adm. William (Red) Raborn, the ballistic missile was combined with the nuclear-powered submarine to form the ultimate nuclear deterrent -- the Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN).
In the 1970s, precision long-range conventional land attack from submarines became possible with the advent of the Tomahawk cruise missile. And in an important side role, submarines and the men that served on them also played a vital part in the expanding areas of Arctic exploration and undersea research.
U.S. submarines played a key role in winning the Cold War, checking the Soviets in two ways. First, American SSBNs deterred nuclear war by maintaining a survivable retaliatory strike capability against any nuclear attack on the United States. Secondly, American SSNs monitored the rapidly expanding Soviet Navy while conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Moreover, worldwide operations by our fast attack submarines underscored American determination to defend our nation and allies from attack.
Submarine innovation continues in the post-Cold War security environment. U.S. submarines transitioned to carrier battle group operations in the near shore environment with substantially greater roles in land attack and Special Operations Forces delivery and improved intelligence collection capabilities.
The innovative Virginia-class submarine now under construction is designed to dominate the littorals. New technologies and communications will increase the potential of the submarine's mission to detect and respond to threats against American security. As we enter the new century, the U.S. submarine's contribution to national security, second to none during its first century of silent service, will become more important in an era of global uncertainty.
For more information on America's Submarine
Centennial events planned this year and other information about
submarines, visit the Navy's web site,
http://www.navy.mil and click on the "Submarine Centennial"
button.