It was on this day, in 1900, that the U.S. Navy purchased a 64-ton experimental submarine from John P. Holland. In October of that same year, this “boat” was named the U.S.S. Holland, officially becoming the Navy’s first commissioned submarine (Submarine Torpedo Boat #1).
Where’d she go? Was the Holland really the USS Monitor without a “cheesebox”???
Of course, the U.S. Submarine Force has come a long way since 1900…
Commissioned on Oct. 23, 2004, the U.S.S. Virginia (SSN-774) was delivered to the U.S. Navy just 11 days earlier, on Oct. 12… the 104th anniversary of the commissioning of the Holland. The Virginia Class is the newest in the U.S. Navy.
No U.S. Submarine Force birthday is complete, however, without the “Tolling of the Boats”…
Happy Birthday to the U.S. Submarine Force, and all those, past and present, who have been part of it… and have been proud to be among those “Qualified in Submarines”.
Cenantua's Blog 
Mike Simons
April 13, 2011
Let’s not forget the South had the first Sub to sink a ship.. CSS Hunley.
To all my friends who serve under the waves Run Silent Run Deep!
Robert Moore
April 14, 2011
To be clear… the Confederacy had the Hunley, not the South.