Today, is the 122nd birthday of the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Force. As U.S. submariners celebrate their birthday around the world this month, they honor the heroes who have served past and present.

Submarines have a long history in the United States, beginning with Turtle, during the American Revolution. The world’s first combat submarine, invented by David Bushnell, was devised as a means of breaking the British blockade of Boston Harbor but was unsuccessful on multiple attempts. The U.S. Navy officially joined the undersea world when it purchased USS Holland (SS-1) on April 11, 1900, and commissioned her on October 12, 1900. The boat, designed by John P. Holland, proved valuable for experimental purposes during her 10-year career.

Although submarines did not play a large part for the U.S. during World War I, submarines such as USS K-5 (Submarine No. 36), one of the first U.S. diesel-electric submarines, deployed to the Azores patrolling for German submarines. World War II was when the submarine force became the workhorse of the U.S. Navy. Assessments indicated that U.S. submarines sank 540,192 tons of Japanese naval vessels, and 4,779,902 tons of merchant shipping during the course of the war, accounting for 54.6 percent of all Japanese vessel losses. World War II submarine operations paved the way for most of today’s submarine missions.

USS Nautilus (SSN-571) — developed by Hyman G. Rickover — was the first nuclear-powered submarine, and the first submarine to cross the North Pole under the Arctic polar ice pack. USS George Washington (SSBN-598) made history on July 20, 1960, when she successfully launched the first Polaris from a submerged submarine. The Tomahawk land-attack missile was later developed, and was first used by, submarines in combat during Operation Desert Storm by USS Louisville (SSN-724) and USS Pittsburgh (SSN-720).

The submarine community is a small force which delivers a major impact and provides unique capabilities to operational commanders. As the maritime security environment has evolved into an asymmetrical warfighting scenario, we now face new weapons systems that can threaten our joint forces at over-the-horizon ranges. These long range challenges underscore the demands on the submarine force to meet their growing and increasing scopes of responsibilities.

Today’s submarine force is the most capable force in the world and the history of the U.S. Navy. The men and women of the U.S. Submarine Force are the most highly trained, dedicated and professional sailors performing some of the most difficult jobs during stealth deployments around the world.

Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Birthday Message

“Of all the branches of the men in the forces there is none which shows more devotion and faces grimmer perils than the submariners.”
Sir Winston Churchill