Submarine School (United States Navy)

Submarine School (United States Navy)
Name	Submarine School
Established	1916
Type	United States Navy training command
City	Groton
State	Connecticut
Country	United States

Submarine School (United States Navy) is the principal training command for enlisted and officer submariners in the United States Navy, located at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. The school provides specialty training in submarine operations, navigation, engineering, and tactical employment for personnel assigned to United States Navy submarine force units such as Los Angeles-class, Virginia-class, Ohio-class, and Seawolf-class platforms. It supports interoperability with allied navies and joint services including the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization partners.

History

Established in 1916 amid rapid expansion of the United States Navy submarine community, the school traces origins to early torpedo and undersea warfare instruction for crews serving on USS Holland (SS-1), USS F-1 (SS-20), and other pre‑World War I boats. During World War I and World War II the command expanded curriculum to include diesel engineering, battery maintenance, and damage control for vessels such as Gato-class and Balao-class boats, while coordinating with facilities like New London Lightship and the Electric Boat Company. Cold War era developments, driven by events including the Korean War and the advent of USS Nautilus (SSN-571), required integration of nuclear propulsion training in concert with United States Naval Academy and Naval Reactors programs. Post‑Cold War transitions incorporated lessons from operations like Operation Desert Storm and strategic shifts reflected in partnerships with commands such as Submarine Force Atlantic and Submarine Force Pacific Fleet.

Mission and Training Programs

The school's mission aligns with readiness directives from the Chief of Naval Operations and supports force generation for numbered fleets including United States Fleet Forces Command and United States Pacific Fleet. Programs include training for submarine officers commissioned via OCS, United States Naval Academy, and Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. Enlisted pathways tie into ratings such as Machinist's Mate (United States Navy), Electrician's Mate (United States Navy), Sonar Technician (Submarine), and Quartermaster (United States Navy). The command also executes technical qualification frameworks associated with Navy Enlisted Classification codes and integrates with community managers like Naval Personnel Command.

Curriculum and Courses

Course offerings span basic and advanced syllabi: submarine basic officer qualification for line officer candidates, enlisted submarine school for prospective submariner ratings, tactical courses in antisubmarine warfare and undersea warfare, and nuclear power fundamentals coordinated with Naval Reactors. Specialized courses address torpedo systems including the Mark 48 torpedo, fire control taught with concepts from Integrated Combat Equipment suites, navigation using Global Positioning System alignment procedures, and emergency procedures derived from incidents such as USS Thresher (SSN-593) and USS Scorpion (SSN-589). Advanced instructor-led modules cover communications via Naval Communications Station systems and materiel familiarization for platforms like Trident-armed submarines.

Facilities and Training Platforms

Located at Naval Submarine Base New London, the command uses simulators, trainer compartments, and shipboard trainers representative of classes operated by the United States Navy. Facilities include full‑mission tactical trainers, diesel and battery trainers reflecting legacy GUPPY conversions, and emergency escape training towers patterned after those at Submarine Escape Immersion Equipment. Partnerships extend to shipyards such as Electric Boat and General Dynamics for maintenance familiarization. The school leverages ranges and support from nearby commands including Naval Undersea Warfare Center and integrates live at‑sea training aboard instrumentation ships and submarines.

Personnel and Graduation/Ceremony

Instructor cadre comprises officers and senior enlisted personnel drawn from platforms like USS Florida (SSGN-728), USS California (SSN-781), and shore billets within Navy Personnel Command. Candidates are evaluated through qualifications boards that conform to standards set by Naval Education and Training Command and receive enlisted designations and officer warfare pins upon successful completion, mirroring traditions found at Surface Warfare Officer School. Graduation ceremonies often include representations from fleet units, flag officers from Submarine Group 2 or Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic, and family members.

International and Joint Training

The school conducts exchange and training programs with allied forces such as the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Republic of Korea Navy, and NATO navies, facilitating shared doctrine in undersea operations and interoperability for exercises like ICEX and RIMPAC. Joint education initiatives coordinate with United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard components for littoral and antisubmarine scenarios and contribute to multinational staff colleges and symposiums hosted by organizations such as the NATO Submarine Committee.

Notable Alumni and Incidents

Alumni include submarine commanders and naval leaders who served on historic boats including USS Nautilus (SSN-571), USS Skate (SSN-578), and USS Arkansas (SSBN-737), and who later held flag officer positions in commands like United States Fleet Forces Command and USSTRATCOM. The school's history is interwoven with incidents that influenced doctrine, notably the loss of USS Thresher (SSN-593) and USS Scorpion (SSN-589), which prompted revisions to training and safety protocols. Graduates have participated in operations spanning World War II, Vietnam War, Cold War, and modern contingencies including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Category:United States Navy submarine bases Category:Military education and training in the United States