Naval Submarine Base New London Groton Connecticut Patch

On the banks of the Thames River in Groton, Connecticut, lies the birthplace of the Navy’s silent service—Naval Submarine Base New London. Established in 1868 as a coaling station, it would transform into the beating heart of America’s undersea fleet. When the first submarines slipped beneath the water in the early 20th century, Groton became their home. By 1916, the base was officially designated the Navy’s first submarine station, marking the dawn of a new era in naval warfare.

From World War I onward, Groton trained the sailors who would take the fight below the waves. But it was in World War II that its importance grew legendary. More than 15,000 officers and 89,000 enlisted men passed through New London’s training programs during the war, learning to live and fight in the claustrophobic, dangerous world of submarines. From Groton, crews sailed out on the long Pacific patrols that broke Japan’s supply lines, sinking thousands of tons of enemy shipping and striking fear into the Imperial Navy. Their victories came at a terrible cost—52 American submarines and more than 3,500 submariners never returned.

In the Cold War, New London stood at the forefront of technological revolution. From diesel to nuclear, from early fleet boats to the mighty ballistic missile submarines that formed the backbone of deterrence, the base evolved with the times. Here, sailors learned to master Polaris and Trident systems, to hunt Soviet subs beneath the Arctic ice, and to live months on end sealed in steel giants beneath the sea.

Today, Naval Submarine Base New London remains the primary training ground for America’s submariners. It houses the Submarine School, the Naval Submarine Support Facility, and countless commands that prepare sailors for the unique demands of undersea warfare. Every submariner who earns their dolphins passes through Groton, making it not just a base but a rite of passage.

To wear the Naval Submarine Base New London patch is to honor the silent warriors of the deep—the men and women who vanish beneath the waves, unseen but ever vigilant, carrying America’s power across the oceans. It is a tribute to more than a century of courage, sacrifice, and unmatched skill in the silent service.