The Holland VI. (Navy photo.)
Today marks the 113th birthday of the U.S. Navy’s submarine force.
The Navy bought its first submarine, the Holland VI, on April 11, 1900, for $150,000, a Navy release said.The sub, named after its creator John Holland, was commissioned in October of that year.
By June 1900, Congress had given the Navy permission to buy five more subs, creating the first fleet of U.S. submarines.
Birthday balls for submariners are happening around the country this weekend and next, including one at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and one in Washington, where Adm. John Richardson, director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, will give a keynote address.
The ball for the Southeastern Connecticut Submarine Force had a sing-off competition to pick who will sign the national anthem this year. The winner, Fairfield University student Laura McKee, was selected in late March and will participate in the ball this Saturday night.
Do you have a favorite memory of time in the silent service? Would you like to give a birthday shout-out to your favorite submariner? Let us know in the comments below.
