On this day USA First Submarine

[John A Silkstone]

The USA first submarine was the USS Holland and started service on this date in 1900. This was the start of the Atlantic Submarine Force and is intertwined with that of its sister force in the Pacific. Submarines first used the New London, Conn., base which later became the headquarters of the Atlantic Submarine Force until 1960 when it was moved to its present location in Norfolk, Virginia.

Prior to World War I, submarines were transferred from the Atlantic to Pacific and patrolled waters as far as the Philippine Islands to protect U. S. interests.