Electric Boat History
Established in 1899, Electric Boat has established standards of excellence in the design, construction and lifecycle support of submarines for the U.S. Navy. Primary operations are the shipyard in Groton, CT, the automated hull-fabrication and outfitting facility in Quonset Point, RI, and an engineering building in New London, CT. The current workforce is more than 14,000 employees.
| 2016: Electric Boat awarded $24 million contract modification to continue development work on the Ohio Replacement submarine. |
| 2015: Electric Boat dedicates new building at Quonset Point for modular construction of Ohio Replacement Class submarines. |
| 2015: First Lady Michelle Obama christens the submarine Illinois (SSN 786). |
| 2014: The U.S. Navy awards Electric Boat a $17.6 billion contract for the construction of 10 additional Virginia-class submarines, the largest contract ever given by the Navy. Known as Block IV, this contract enables Electric Boat and its industry teammate, Newport News Shipbuilding, to proceed with the construction of two ships per year over a five-year period. |
| 2013: Electric Boat is awarded a $1.85 billion Ohio Replacement Program contract to perform research and development work for this new class of ballistic-missile submarine, which is scheduled for a 2021 construction start. Electric Boat will also continue development of the joint U.S. Navy/Royal Navy Common Missile Compartment for Ohio Replacement submarines and the UK Successor-class ballistic-missile submarine. |
| 2010: Electric Boat acquires the former Pfizer building in New London to accommodate its growing engineering workforce in modern facilities. |
| 2007: Electric Boat re-delivers USS Georgia (SSGN 729), completing the conversion of four Ohio-class SSBNs to SSGNs; an enhanced conventional strike platform that can accommodate large numbers of special forces. |
| 2004: Electric Boat delivers both the Virginia (SSN774) and the Jimmy Carter (SSN23) to the U.S. Navy. |
| 2004: Electric Boat christens the Jimmy Carter (SSN23), the third and final Seawolf-class submarine, which has been modified for special warfare and surveillance. |
| 2003: The Navy awards Electric Boat an $8.7 billion block-buy contract for six Virginia-class submarines, the largest submarine order in U.S. history. The contract is later converted to a multiyear purchase plan for five submarines. |
| 2003: Electric Boat christens the Virginia (SSN774), first of its class. |
| 2003: Electric Boat begins the SSGN conversions of the four oldest Ohio-class SSBNs into multi-mission submarines optimized for covert strike and special operations support. |
| 2002: Electric Boat receives a $443 million contract to design the SSGN, a conversion of the four oldest Ohio-class SSBNs into multi-mission submarines optimized for covert strike and special operations support. |
| 2001: The Quonset Point Facility's new automated steel-processing center is dedicated. |
| 2000: The first hull section of Virginia (SSN774), the first of the U.S. Navy's newest class of nuclear attack submarines, arrives at the Groton shipyard. The 1,000-ton section was transported from Quonset Point. |
| 2000: Electric Boat breaks ground for a $12.4 million automated steel-processing center at the Quonset Point Facility. |
| 1999: U.S. Sen. John Warner of Virginia inscribes his initials on Virginia (SSN774) during a keel-laying ceremony at the Quonset Point Facility for the lead ship of the Navy's newest class of submarines. |
| 1999: The U.S. Navy awards Electric Boat an $887 million contract to modify Jimmy Carter (SSN23) to accommodate advanced technology for special warfare and surveillance. |
| 1999: Electric Boat marks the centennial of its founding. |
| 1998: Electric Boat receives a $4.2 billion contract to build the first four Virginia-class submarines. Construction is shared with teammate Northrop Grumman Newport News (now Huntington Ingalls-Newport News Shipbuilding). |
| 1998: Electric Boat delivers the second Seawolf-class submarine, Connecticut (SSN22), to the U.S. Navy. |
| 1997: USS Louisiana (SSBN743), Electric Boat's 18th and final Trident submarine, is delivered to the Navy, bringing to a close what has been described as a model military procurement program. |
| 1997: The Navy commissions USS Seawolf (SSN21). |
| 1997: Electric Boat teams with Newport News Shipbuilding (now Huntington Ingalls-Newport News Shipbuilding) to produce the Virginia Class of submarines. |
| 1997: Electric Boat christens the second Seawolf-class submarine, Connecticut (SSN22). |
| 1996: Electric Boat receives a $1.4 billion contract to design the successor to the Seawolf class, the New Attack Submarine, now known as the Virginia class. |
| 1996: At the completion of its initial sea trials, Seawolf (SSN21) is described as the fastest, quietest, most heavily armed submarine in the world. |
| 1995: Seawolf (SSN21) is christened by Margaret Dalton, wife of Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton. |
| 1994: First lady Hillary Clinton christens Columbia (SSN771), Electric Boat's 33rd and final Los Angeles-class submarine. Columbia was also the last U.S. submarine to be launched in the traditional sliding fashion. |
| 1991: Electric Boat wins the contract to build the second Seawolf submarine (SSN22), later named Connecticut. |
| 1989: The company begins construction of Seawolf (SSN21), the lead ship in what will be the most advanced class of attack submarine in the world. |
| 1980: Quonset Point's automated frame and cylinder facility becomes fully operational. |
| 1979: Electric Boat launches the Ohio (SSBN726), the first of an 18-ship class popularly known as Tridents. |
| 1978: Construction of EB's $120 million automated frame and cylinder facility begins at Quonset Point. |
| 1977: The land-level submarine construction facility in Groton becomes fully operational. |
| 1975: Construction of EB's $150 million land-level submarine construction facility begins in Groton. |
| 1974: Production begins at Quonset Point, with an initial workforce of eight trainees and a handful of management personnel. |
| 1973: The company's Quonset Point Facility in North Kingstown, RI, is established. |
| 1972: The company lays the keel for its first Los Angeles-class attack submarine, Philadelphia (SSN690). |
| 1972: Electric Boat receives contracts for the design and development of the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine. These mammoth 560-foot ships will be built in a modular fashion, a process pioneered by EB. |
| 1966: Sturgeon (SSN637), the lead ship in a new class of attack submarines, is launched. |
| 1960: USS George Washington embarks on its first strategic deterrence patrol carrying 16 Polaris missiles. |
| 1960: The Electric Boat-built USS Triton (SSN586) circumnavigates the globe submerged in 84 days. The journey followed Ferdinand Magellan's route, which took three years to complete. |
| 1959: USS George Washington (SSBN598), the Navy's first fleet ballistic-missile submarine, is commissioned. |
| 1954: First lady Mamie Eisenhower christens the Nautilus. Embarking on initial sea trials a year later, the submarine sends the historic message: "Underway on nuclear power." |
| 1951: The company announces its contract to build the Nautilus (SSN571), the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. |
| 1941-45: Over the course of World War II, Electric Boat produces 74 submarines and 398 PT boats. |
| 1934: Cuttlefish, the first submarine ordered by the U.S. Navy since 1918, is delivered. Cuttlefish is also the first welded submarine and the first submarine built in Groton for the Navy. |
| 1924: The Peruvian government places orders for two submarines, the first to be built at the Groton shipyard. |
| 1914-18: During World War I and just after, Electric Boat receives orders to build 85 submarines for the U.S. Navy. The company's ELCO subsidiary builds 722 submarine chasers, while another subsidiary, the Submarine Boat Co., builds 118 Liberty ships. |
| 1911: Electric Boat acquires the New London Ship and Engine Co. in Groton, CT, to build diesel engines and other machinery and parts for submarines and commercial ships. |
| 1900: Considered the world's first practical submarine and named for its inventor, the Holland is accepted by the U.S. Navy, marking the beginning of the U.S. Submarine Force. |
| 1899: Financier Isaac Rice founds Electric Boat Company. The company was established to bring to completion a 54-foot submersible vessel developed by John Philip Holland. |