Electric Boat History
The world’s first and finest submarine builder, General Dynamics Electric Boat was established in 1899 to construct a 54-foot submersible vessel developed by John Holland. Just one year later, the world’s first practical submarine, USS Holland, was accepted by the U.S. Navy, marking the beginning of the U.S. Submarine Force. For over 125 years, Electric Boat has continued our legacy of firsts, designing, constructing and maintaining the most capable submarines to ensure our nation’s defense.
Launched in 1954, the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus, was designed and built by the men and women of Electric Boat, ushering in a new era of U.S. Navy history. In the succeeding decades, we have never stopped innovating, delivering ever-more capable and stealthy submarines. This storied history has led to our leadership role on today’s most technologically advanced Virginia class fast-attack submarine, and the next-generation ballistic-missile submarine, the Columbia class, our nation’s top strategic defense priority.
Electric Boat will continue our legacy of innovation because of our shipbuilders. While each of our 23,000 employees brings a unique perspective to this work, our success lies in what they share in common—a dedication to protecting the sailors who operate in the harshest environment through delivery of world-class submarines.
| 2026: Electric Boat receives delivery of a new floating dry dock called Atlas, built by Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana, that will roll out and launch Columbia-class submarines from the South Yard Assembly Building (SYAB). |
| 2025: Electric Boat marks delivery of the newest Virginia-class submarine, PCU Idaho (SSN 799), to the U.S. Navy. |
| 2025: The last module for the lead ship of the Columbia class, District of Columbia (SSBN 826), arrives in Groton from Quonset Point. |
| 2025: Electric Boat christens submarine Utah (SSN 801), the 28th submarine of the Virginia class. |
| 2025: Electric Boat acquires the Crystal Mall in Waterford, CT, to support continued expansion and increased submarine production. |
| 2025: Electric Boat marks the keel laying of Wisconsin (SSBN 827), the second submarine of the Columbia class. |
| 2025: Electric Boat installs a new Graving Dock 3 pontoon, replacing the original 47-year-old asset removed earlier in the year. |
| 2025: Electric Boat is awarded $12.4 billion in contract modifications designed to accelerate Columbia and Virginia-class program performance through wage enhancements and infrastructure investments. Electric Boat calls the company-wide initiative to accelerate performance EB Now. Wage enhancements and shipyard investments associated with EB Now will serve as a catalyst to propel Electric Boat to new levels of performance. |
| 2024: Electric Boat’s Virginia-class submarine is named the Coolest Thing Made in Connecticut in the first annual contest hosted by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA). |
| 2024: Electric Boat christens Virginia-class submarine PCU Idaho (SSN 799). |
| 2024: Electric Boat celebrates 125 years of shipbuilding excellence on February 7. |
| 2024: The stern of the first Columbia-class submarine, District of Columbia (SSBN 826), arrives at Electric Boat’s Quonset Point facility. |
| 2023: Electric Boat delivers the nuclear-powered attack submarine Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) to the U.S. Navy. |
| 2022: Electric Boat marks keel laying of the first Columbia-class submarine, PCU District of Columbia (SSBN 826), and the first Virginia-class submarine to be equipped with the Virginia Payload Module, PCU Arizona (SSN 803). |
| 2021: Electric Boat christens the 22nd submarine of the Virginia class, USS Hyman G. Rickover, named after the father of the nuclear Navy, Admiral Rickover. |
| 2020: Electric Boat is awarded a $9.474 billion contract modification option for construction and test of the lead and second ships of the Columbia class, as well as associated design and engineering support. |
| 2019: Electric Boat is awarded $22.2 billion by the U.S. Navy for fifth block of Virginia-class submarines. |
| 2019: Electric Boat completes construction of 30,000 square-foot Virginia Payload Module (VPM) Special Fixture Building at the Quonset Point, Rhode Island, facility. |
| 2019: Electric Boat breaks ground on 200,000 square-foot South Yard Assembly Building in Groton, Connecticut, for construction of Columbia-class submarines. |
| 2018: Electric Boat is awarded a $126.1 million contract modification to continue development of the Common Missile Compartment for the U.S. Navy’s Columbia-class submarine and the Royal Navy’s Successor-class ballistic-missile submarine. |
| 2017: Electric Boat is awarded a $5.1 billion Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD) contract to complete the design of the lead Columbia-class submarine. |
| 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 (SSN 774) and the Jimmy Carter (SSN 23) to the U.S. Navy. |
| 2004: Electric Boat christens Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), 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 (SSN 774), 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 (SSN 774), 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 (SSN 774) 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 (SSN 23) 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 (SSN 22), to the U.S. Navy. |
| 1997: USS Louisiana (SSBN 743), 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 (SSN 21). |
| 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 (SSN 22). |
| 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 (SSN 21) is described as the fastest, quietest, most heavily armed submarine in the world. |
| 1995: Seawolf (SSN 21) is christened by Margaret Dalton, wife of Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton. |
| 1994: First lady Hillary Clinton christens Columbia (SSN 771), 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 (SSN 22), later named Connecticut. |
| 1989: The company begins construction of Seawolf (SSN 21), 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 Ohio (SSBN 726), 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 (SSN 690). |
| 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 (SSN 637), 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 (SSN 586) circumnavigates the globe submerged in 84 days. The journey followed Ferdinand Magellan's route, which took three years to complete. |
| 1959: USS George Washington (SSBN 598), the Navy's first fleet ballistic-missile submarine, is commissioned. |
| 1954: First lady Mamie Eisenhower christens 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 Nautilus (SSN 571), 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 EFC Design 1023 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, 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. |