July 13,
2008: With most American subs now based
in the Pacific, a recent merger of two Washington state naval bases (Bremerton
and Bangor) made the new base, (Kitsap) technically, the largest (in terms of
subs and submariners) base in the United States. Submariners at the Groton,
Connecticut, naval base, don't agree.
The U.S.
Navy is in the midst of shifting the bulk of its submarines to the Pacific. By
2010, six Los Angeles class attack submarines (SSNs) will have moved from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. Three of the boats will be based in San Diego, one in Kitsap,
Washington and one in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This will result in 31 SSNs based
in the Pacific, and 21 in the Atlantic. Normally, two SSNs accompany each
deployed carrier task force. Otherwise, the SSNs are sent out individually on
patrols, or specific missions. SSNs have been used increasingly for intelligence
collecting work. The shift of SSNs to the Pacific is in recognition of the
greater potential need in the Pacific. That means the growing Chinese fleet,
and ongoing problems with North Korea and Iran. Most of the SSBNs (ballistic
missile carrying subs) are already in the Pacific.
The new
Kitsap base has 13 subs based there, and 3,500 submariners. Groton has 16 subs,
but only 2,400 submariners. Kitsap has more people because the ten SSBNs based
there each have two crews. But Groton also has the school that gives all
submariners their basic training, and the shipyard that builds all U.S. subs is
nearby as well.
Groton is
the older facility, being a 19th century navy yard that was converted to a
submarine base in 1916. The Kitsap base was created in 2004, by combining two
World War II era bases. Kitsap has more submariners, and their families, while
Groton has more subs, as well as being closer to where submariners are trained,
and their boats built. Take your pick, because sailors from both bases will,
for some time to come.
