New "tiff" over Groton's sub sign.

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http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=4a4719 ... 5a71a1e9fb

It's not so much as what's in a name as where
Groton 'submarine capital' title challenged by base in Washington

By Jennifer Grogan Published on 6/27/2008


Groton - The outgoing commanding officer of Naval Base Kitsap wants the “Submarine Capital of the World” sign removed from Interstate 95 and instead placed at the entrance to his base in the state of Washington.

”The new submarine capital is Kitsap,” Capt. Reid Tanaka said in a speech given earlier this month as he relinquished command of the base.

But Capt. Mark S. Ginda says the sign, and the title, will stay in Groton.

”Even if he agrees to pay for shipping, it's not going anywhere,” said Ginda, commanding officer of the Naval Submarine Base.

Sixteen fast-attack submarines and the Naval Research Vessel (NR-1) are in Groton, compared to 14 submarines at Kitsap.

But Tanaka argues that Kitsap is home to all three classes of submarines - ballistic-missile, guided-missile and fast-attack. Two of their submarines, USS Connecticut and USS Seawolf, were homeported in Groton until recently.

”The shift of Navy assets to the Pacific Fleet makes Kitsap all the more important,” Tanaka said, according to the transcript of his speech.

After the staff in Groton heard about Tanaka's remarks, Ginda said “there were no emergency meetings to figure out how we were going to counter this blasphemy, if you will” because Tanaka has a “tough road ahead of him” if he wants to continue to call Kitsap the new capital.

”We have the natural synergy of the base and Electric Boat, right down the river, where the latest class of subs are built,” Ginda said. “We have sub school, where officers and enlisted cut their teeth on a submarine profession that started here, as the first submarine base, and continues on as the submarine capital of the world.”

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http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jul/ ... b-capital/

Groton Holding on

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jul/ ... b-capital/

Groton Holding on Tight to Its ‘Submarine Capital' Designation
By Ed Friedrich (Contact)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Capt. Reid Tanaka ruffled some New England feathers recently when the departing Naval Base Kitsap commander jabbed in his change-of-command speech that "the new submarine capital of the Navy is Kitsap."

The quip appeared in the Kitsap Sun and sailed through cyberspace, arriving as a Google alert in a Groton, Conn., reporter's inbox. She alerted the commander at Naval Submarine Base New London, who retorted that the "Submarine Capital of the World" sign will remain at the entrance to Groton.

"Even if he agrees to pay for shipping, it's not going anywhere," Capt. Mark Ginda was quoted as saying in a news story.

Ginda added that "there were no emergency meetings to figure out how we were going to counter this blasphemy" because Tanaka has a "tough road ahead of him" if he wants to call Kitsap the new capital.

"We have the natural synergy of the base and Electric Boat right down the river where the latest class of subs are built," he said. "We have sub school, where officers and enlisted cut their teeth on a submarine profession that started here, as the first submarine base, and continues on as the submarine capital of the world."Tanaka surely wasn't challenging Groton's heritage. However, the Navy, by shifting 60 percent of its firepower to the Pacific Ocean, gave him some ammo.

During Tanaka's three-year tenure, Kitsap added five submarines. Two Tridents moved from Kings Bay, Ga. Two others were converted from carrying nuclear arms to conventional missiles. Three fast-attack subs shifted from Groton to Bremerton, including the USS Connecticut. That didn't sit too well in its home state.

Kitsap boasts three types of submarines, and 13 are homeported here. Its 10 Tridents each have two crews of more than 150 men while the fast-attack subs are operated by one crew of 134.

"There are more submarine crews in Kitsap than in any other place," Tanaka said in his speech.

That would give Kitsap 23 sub crews totaling 3,500 men, and leave Groton with 16 crews and 2,400 submariners.

Neither captain was around this week to comment. Ginda was on vacation, and Tanaka is now chief of staff of the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group in Japan.

Several New Englanders who commented on the newspaper's online story weren't bashful about stirring things up, however.

"If this wasn't tongue in cheek by Capt. Tanaka, consider this a shot across the bow," wrote Nemo of Groton. "With BRAC (Base Closure and Realignment Commission) coming around again, we should all be wary of the views of Capt. Tanaka as I am sure he is not the only one in naval circles spreading this ill will."

The Groton base was nearly closed during BRAC's round of realignments in 2005.

Don Bassler, commander of the Kitsap chapter of SubVets, believes Tanaka was just proud to serve here during a period of so much growth.

"Groton has been the capital of the U.S. submarine service since Day 1 because the submarine school is there and their initial training is there," said the 21-year Navy veteran. "We just have more active submarine personnel because of the two crews (on Tridents). I think that's what (Tanaka) means."

The Navy's other submarines are based in Hawaii (which has 15), Norfolk, Va. (which has eight), San Diego (which has five) and Guam (which has four), according to a Navy Web site.

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some interesting history of the

some interesting history of the sign

http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=dbac8a ... 10293cdfc3

The Real Sub Capital
By Carol W. Kimball Published on 7/14/2008

I read in The Day that some unknown spot on the Pacific coast, Naval Base Kitsap, claims to be the new submarine capital of the world. (”It's not so much as what's in a name as where,” The Day, June 27, 2008).

Their outgoing commanding officer has dared to claim Groton's title and even the landmark sign, a familiar fixture on Interstate 95 for more than 40 years. What are they thinking? Groton nailed down that designation long ago after years of association with submarines and the Navy. Not to worry. The title and the sign aren't going anywhere.

Naval Base Kitsap was new to me. After research I learned that it was created four years ago on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state to host the Navy's fleet in Puget Sound, including 14 submarines. Groton has much more going for it. The town's naval base, established in 1868, became a submarine base in 1916. Sixteen fast-attack submarines are based there and the submarine school as well. Down river is the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, building the newest subs. Can Kitsap match that?

The sign was the brain child of the Groton Chamber of Commerce, which later merged into the Southeastern Chamber. In the 1960s when the late Clarence B. Sharp was Chamber president they aimed to erect a submarine silhouette on Interstate 95 to publicize the town and its submarine industry, symbolizing Groton as “the submarine capital of the world.” Private donations raised the necessary $3,000. They completed the 30-foot submarine replica outlined with colorful neon lights near the Gold Star Bridge approach in November 1964.

Its life was not easy. It had to be moved in 1971 when new approaches were constructed for the enlarged bridge. Its prominence on the hill made it the target for vandals and protestors. The neon lights were repeatedly trashed and by 1977 the dingy sign needed a new paint job. A local Boy Scout troop volunteered and the crew of the submarine Groton offered to do the job. Finally, in 2003, the SUBASE CPOs rehabilitated the sign, a job they saw as an embodiment of their pride in the submarine service.

The old sign was replaced in 2004. The present one, of the Nautilus, was constructed by staff and students at the Nuclear Weld School at

the sub base, requiring some 300 man hours for the project. With materials donated by General Dynamics, equipment from ABCO Welding supplies, paint supplied by the Chief Petty Officers Association and with help from the town of Groton, the job was done.

The new sign was unveiled marking the 50th anniversary of the commissioning of the USS Nautilus. A spectator remarked that it was good to renew the proclamation that Groton is the submarine Capital of the world.

And after all this history, Kitsap wants the title and the sign? I don't think so.