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Submarine Timeline
18th Century
| Date |
Event |
| September 7, 1776 |
David Busnell attempts to destroy a British Ship of the Line, HMS Asia, in New York harbor with his submarine Turtle. |
19th Century
| Date |
Event |
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February 17, 1864
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Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley sinks the USS Housatonic.
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March 13, 1895
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John P. Holland Torpedo Boat Co. is awarded the first submarine building contract.
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| March 17, 1898 |
USS Holland, the first practical submarine, is launched. |
20th Century
| Date |
Event |
April 11, 1900
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Navy accepted its first submarine, USS Holland (SS-1).
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August 29, 1915
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Navy salvage divers raise F-4 (SS-23), the first US submarine sunk by accident.
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October 19, 1915
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Establishment of Submarine Base at New London, CT.
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July 1, 1916
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Establishment of an informal school for officers assigned to submarines at New London, CT.
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November 5, 1923
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Tests designed to prove the feasibility of launching a small seaplane from a submarine occur at Hampton Roads Naval Base. A Martin MS-1, stored dissassembled in a tank on board USS S-1, was removed and assembled. Then the submarine submerged allowing the plane to float free and take off.
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August 30, 1929
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Near New London CT, 26 officers and men test the Momsen lung and exit the submerged USS S-4 (SS-109).
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March 20, 1939 |
Naval research Lab recommends financing research program to obtain power from the nuclear fission of uranium.
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May 23, 1939
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USS Squalus (SS-92) sinks off Portsmouth, NH, with the loss of 26 lives.
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May 24, 1939
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First and only use of VADM Allan McCann's Rescue Chamber to rescue 33 men from the sunken USS Squalus (SS-192).
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June 1, 1939
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Director of the Naval Research Laboratory, CAPT Hollis M. Cooley, proposes research in atomic energy for future use in nuclear powered submarines.
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December 7, 1941
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Japanese carrier aircraft attack U.S. Pacific Fleet based in Pearl harbor Hawaii. This is the beginning of the american involvement in World War II.
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December 9, 1941
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USS Swordfish (SS-193) makes the initial U.S. submarine attack on a Japanese ship.
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December 16, 1941
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USS Swordfish (SS-193) sinks the Japanese cargo ship Atsutasan Maru.
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January 27, 1942
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USS Gudgeon is the first US sub to sink an enemy submarine in action, the Japanese I-173.
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August 17, 1942
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USS Nautilus (SS-168) and USS Argonaut (SS-166) land 222 Marines on Makin Island, the first amphibious attack made from submarines.
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January 14, 1943
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In the first submarine resupply mission, USS Gudgeon lands 6 men and one ton of equipment and supplies on Negros Island.
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November 19, 1943
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USS Nautilus (SS-168) enters Tarawa lagoon and conducts the first submarine photograph reconnaissance mission.
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December 21, 1943
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USS Grayling (SS-208) sinks fourth Japanese ship since 18 December.
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December 29, 1943
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USS Silversides (SS-236) sinks three Japanese ships and damages a fourth off Palau.
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June 19, 1944
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During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, USS Albacore (SS-218) under the command of CDR James W. Blanchard, fires a spread of 6 torpedoes at the Japanese carrier IJN Taiho. Only one of the torpedoes would hit Taiho; however, due to inexperience of a junior officer put in charge of damage control efforts, the Taiho sinks. Albacore's message only states that he damaged the carrier and it takes months before Naval Intelligence learns what happened. On the same day the USS Cavalla (SS-244), under the command of LCDR Herman J. Kossler, fired six torpedoes at the Japanese carrier IJN Shokaku. Four torpedoes hit and the Cavalla sank a carrier with the first firing of her torpedoes on the maiden war patrol under a new skipper. The Taiho and Shokaku sank half an hour apart.
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August 27, 1944
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USS Stingray (SS-186) lands men and supplies on Luzon, Philippines to support guerilla operations against the Japanese.
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September 2, 1944
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USS Finback (SS-230) rescues LT(jg) George Bush, USNR, who was shot down while attacking Chichi Jima.
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September 29, 1944
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USS Narwhal (SS-167) evacuates 81 Allied prisoners of war that survived the sinking of the Japanese ship Shinyo Maru from Sindangan Bay, Mindanao.
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September 30, 1944 |
USS Nautilus (SS-168) lands supplies and evacuates some people from Panay, Philippine Islands.
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November 29, 1944
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USS Archerfish (SS-311), under the command of CDR Joseph F. Enright, USN, sank the Japanese carrier IJN Shinano, the world's largest warship sunk by any submarine during World War II.
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December 4, 1944
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USS Flasher (SS-249) sinks Japanese destroyer IJN Kishinami and damages a merchant ship in the South China Sea. Flasher is the only U.S. submarine to sink over 100,000 tons of enemy shipping in World War II.
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February 12, 1945
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USS Batfish (SS-310) sinks second Japanese submarine within three days.
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July 2, 1945
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USS Barb (SS-220) bombards Japanese installations on Kaihyo Island, Japan; the first successful use of rockets against shore positions.
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February 12, 1947
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USS Cusk (SSG-348) launched the first guided missile (Loon) from a submarine .
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August 21, 1951
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First contract to build a nuclear powered submarine awarded to the Electric Boat Co.
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January 21, 1954
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Launching of the Nautilus, first nuclear submarine, at Groton, CT.
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September 30, 1954 |
Commissioning of USS Nautilus (SSN-571) at Groton, CT, the world's first nuclear-powered ship.
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January 17, 1955
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USS Nautilus (SSN-571), the first nuclear-powered submarine under the command of CDR Eugene P. wilkinson, casts off lines at 1100 and sends message "underway on nuclear power".
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November 17, 1955
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Navy sets up Special Projects Office under Rear admiral William F. Raborn, USN, to develop a solid propellant ballistic missile for use in submarines.
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January 10, 1956
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Establishment of the first Navy nuclear power school at Submarine Base, New London, CT.
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June 18, 1957
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CNO approves the ship characteristics of the Fleet Ballistic Missile submarine.
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September 19, 1957
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Bathyscaph Trieste reaches a record depth of 2 miles in the Mediterranean Sea. The Office of Naval Research sponsored the dive.
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November 13, 1957
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First firing of the Regulus II cruise missile.
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March 7, 1958
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Commissioning of USS Grayback (SSG-574), the first submarine built from the keel up with guided missile capability. It carried the Regulus II missile.
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March 23, 1958
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First launching of a simulated Polaris missile from a submerged tactical launcher facility off of CA.
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June 8, 1958
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Navy and Post Office deliver first official missile mail when USS Barbero (SS-317) fired a Regulus II missile with 3000 letters 100 miles east of Jacksonville, FL to Mayport, FL.
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July 23, 1958
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USS Nautilus (SSN-571) departs Pearl Harbor, HA, for the first submerged transit of the North Pole.
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August 1, 1958
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USS Nautilus (SSN-571) submerges under Artic ice cap near Point Barrow.
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August 3, 1958
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USS Nautilus (SSN-571) is the first ship to reach the geographic North Pole submerged.
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August 12, 1958
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USS Nautilus (SSN-571) arrives in Portland, England, completing the first submerged under ice transit from the Pacific to Atlantic Oceans.
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September 16, 1958
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USS Grayback (SSG-574) launches the first operational Regulus II surface to surface guided missile off CA.
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October 6, 1958
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USS Seawolf (SSN-575) completes a record submerged run of 60 days, logging over 13,700 nautical miles.
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March 17, 1959
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USS Skate (SSN-578) surfaces at the North Pole.
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June 9, 1959
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Launching of USS George Washington (SSBN-598), the first nuclear powered fleet ballistic missile submarine, at Groton, CT.
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December 30, 1959
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Commissioning of first fleet baliistic missile submarine, USS George Washington (SSBN-598) at Groton, CT.
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August 27, 1959
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Off Cape Canaveral, FL, USS Observation Island (EAG-154) makes the first shipboard launching of a Polaris missile.
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January 7, 1960
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Launch of the first fully-guided flight of a Polaris missile at Cape Canaveral (flew 900 miles).
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January 23, 1960
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Bathyscaph Trieste descends to the deepest part of the ocean, the Marianas Trench.
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February 10, 1960
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USS Sargo (SSN-583) surfaces at the North Pole.
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March 3, 1960
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USS Sargo (SSN-583) returns to Hawaii from arctic cruise of 11,000 miles, 6,003 miles under the polar ice.
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March 29, 1960 |
Launch of the first fully integrated Fleet Ballistic Missile from USS Observation Island.
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May 10, 1960
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USS Triton (SSN-586) completes submerged circumnavigation of the world in 84 days following many of the routes taken by Magellan and cruising 46,000 miles. This was accomplished on Triton's shakedown cruise under the command of CAPT Edward L. Beach. The Triton was also the only non-Soviet submarine to have two nuclear reactors.
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July 20, 1960
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USS George Washington (SSBN-598)successfully fires 2 operational Polaris missiles while submerged off the coast of Florida. This was the first launching of the Polaris missile.
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October 15, 1960
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USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599) begins successful firing of four Polaris test vehicles under operational rather than test conditions. Tests are completed on 18 October.
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November 15, 1960
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First Fleet Ballistic Submarine, USS George Washington (SSBN-598), leaves Charleston, SC, on the initial fleet ballistic missile patrol.
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January 21, 1961
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USS George Washington completes first operational voyage of a fleet ballistic missile submarine staying submerged for 66 days.
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April 10, 1963
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USS Thresher is lost with all hands (112 crew and 12 civilians) during diving tests.
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September 26,
1963
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First steam-eject launch of Polaris missile at sea off Cape Canaveral, FL (now Cape Kennedy) from USS Observation Island (EAG-154).
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October 26, 1963
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USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN-619) launches first Polaris A-3 missile from a submerged submarine, off Cape Canaveral, FL.
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November 16, 1963
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President John F. Kennedy on board the USS Observation Island (EAG-154), witnesses the launch of the Polaris A-2 missile by USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN-619).
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April 20, 1964
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USS Henry Clay (SSBN-625) launches a Polaris A-2 missile from the surface in the first demonstration that Polaris submarines could launch missiles from the surface as well as from beneath the ocean. 30 minutes later the USS Henry Clay launched another Polaris missile while submerged.
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September 28, 1964
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First deployment of Polaris A-3 missile on the USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626) from Charleston, SC.
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May 22, 1968
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USS Scorpion (SSN-589) is lost with all hands.
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May 15, 1969
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Sinking of the USS Guitarro (SSN-665) while tied up to the dock at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The Guitarro was refloated on Sunday May 18, 1960.
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June 28, 1970
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USS James Madison (SSBN-627) completes conversion to Poseidon missile capability.
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August 3, 1970
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USS James Madison (SSBN-627) conducts the first submerged launching of a Poseidon nuclear missile off Cape Kennedy.
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March 31, 1971
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Poseidon (C-3) missile becomes operational when the USS James Madison began her 3rd deterrant patrol carrying 16 tactical Poseidon missiles.
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November 4, 1971
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USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636) launches a Poseidon C-3 missile in the first surface launch of a Poseidon missile.
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January 18, 1977
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The Trident (C-4) missile development flight test program commenced when C4X-1 was launched from a flight pad at Cape Canaveral, FL.
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April 7, 1979
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Launching of the first Trident submarine, USS Ohio (SSBN-726) at Groton, CT.
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November 1, 1970
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Retirement of the Polaris A-3 missile program begins with the removal of missiles from USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602). The last Polaris missile was removed from service in February 1982.
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December 10, 1979
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First Poseidon submarine configured with Trident missiles, USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657) completes its initial deterrent patrol.
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February 28, 1980
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Blue crew of USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657) launches 4 trident I (C-4) missiles in first C-4 Operational Test.
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November 11, 1981
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Commissioning of the first Trident-class Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine, USS Ohio (SSBN-726).
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December 10, 1982 |
USS Ohio (SSBN-726), first Trident-Class submarine, returns from it's first deterrent patrol. |
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