COMMANDER NAVAL SUBMARINE FORCES

The Los Angeles class fast attack submarine USS Hampton (SSN 767) passes the Navy's newest submarine, PCU Virginia (SSN 774) at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Virginia is the Navy's only major combatant ready to join the fleet that was designed with the post-Cold War security environment in mind and embodies the war fighting and operational capabilities required to dominate the littorals while maintaining undersea dominance in the open ocean. Virginia will be commissioned at Norfolk Naval Station on October 23, 2004. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Christina M. Shaw (RELEASED) For more photos from the submarine force >>>

"Submarine Past" meets "Submarine Future"


	The Submarine Force
	The Atlantic Submarine Force is made up of over 15,000 highly trained and motivated men and women both military and civilian who are dedicated to provide the American people with the best submarine force in the world.

	History of the Sub Force
	A visionary named John Holland and his submarine SS-1 became the basis for the U.S. Navy's submarine force. Over 100 years later, the United States maintains the world's premier submarine force with more than 50 nuclear powered warships.

	Future Capability Vision
	This is the vision for the future capabilities the submarine force needs to maintain undersea dominance and relevan ce to Sea Power 21 and future joint warfighting.

	Virginia Class Submarines
	The first of the Navy's newest class of fast attack submarine, USS Virginia (SSN 774), will be commissioned October 23, 2004, in Norfolk, Va. Information about the most technologically-advanced class of submarines to join the fleet is available for review.

New International Submarine Rescue Center Opens

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO) was officially activated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Naval Support Activity Norfolk Sept. 27.

Vice Adm. Kirkland H. Donald, commander, Naval Submarine Forces and Allied Submarine Command, and the ISMERLO team did the honors, cutting the ribbon and opening the door to a new approach to submarine rescue.

ISMERLO is the international hub for information and coordination on submarine rescue. Any time a submarine runs into trouble, ISMERLO can quickly post the word on the Internet, find a system capable of rescuing the submarine, and coordinate a rescue effort in support of the country involved. For this and more stories from the submarine force >>>

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