Naval Submarine Base New London
Title
Naval Submarine Base New London
Description
New London became the location of the first United States Navy Submarine Base on October 18, 1915, when America entered World War I after the sinking of the Lusitania, resulting in the death of 128 Americans. New London’s Navy Yard was transformed into a submarine base, playing a critical role in the United States’ military endeavors. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 ushered the US into the Second World War, the Sub Base was expanded by 300 acres, the largest expansion of all submarine bases across the nation. The Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL), which is still in operation today, was founded in 1942 at the Base to study sonar, night vision, and diving solutions for the front.
Contributor
Jennifer Wilson
Collection Items
The First Seven Submarines
These class D and G submarines were among the first to arrive in Groton during the First World War. Transforming the original Navy Yard site, the quiet seaside town of New London became the location of the first ever Naval Submarine Base.
