Submarine Bases

[Joann Raytar]

Anyone else think stationing all of our subs in one location in VA might not be a great idea?

The proposal to close the sub base in Groton comes despite months of lobbying from Connecticut officials who say the base is crucial to the region because of its $2.5 billion hit on the state economy.

Anyone else have opinions on what closing these bases is going to do to various communities?

[hcjilson]

I think ALL the folks in Groton-New London and environs are saying that.

[Ed_Optician]

Submarines have been based in Groton Ct since before Chester Nimitz was an Ensign assigned to one of those early pig boats. It is not a good idea to put all of ones eggs in one basket on each coast. I would base the boomers at one port and the fast attack boats at another..and keep the school right where it is
On the west coast keep the missile boats in Washington and the fast attack boats at San Diego with a forward base at Pearl

Ed

[Spexvet]

They're closing an air base near Philadelphia, too. Could this be punishment for voting democrat?

[rbaker]

Jo,

Not to worry. We have the 1.6 billion dollar Utopia project coming to Preston, CT and “big oil” is already scouting the sub base as the site of the grand oil refinery so desperately needed in New England. Just down the river, Pfizer is cranking out the Viagra by the ton while just up the river Foxwoods and the Mohegan Sun casinos are raking it in. Across the river the Coast Guard Academy is booming - I think that they want to double in size. Cripes, the Peoples Republic of Connecticut ain’t never had it so good. As far as our military needs are concerned, most Connecticut residents that I speak with feel that our security needs can best be taken care of by the United Nations.

Seriously, I hope that the decision is based upon the needs of the military. We are living in an evolving military/defense environment. The main purpose for the boats no longer exists and I do not believe the Navy has any new boats planned. As it now stands Electric Boat, just down the Thames River has launched their last new construction last fall and is now just performing upgrades and repair on the existing fleet. The submarine has probably gone the way of the battleship.

Base closings place a lot of hardship on the community. But, they are not the end of the world. If we look at the closing of Pease AFB in Portsmouth, NH we see an excellent example of the conversion of a military base into a world class trade port. The economic impact on the area has grown to far exceed its previous use. I am sure that there are many more examples of successful base closings. No person, business or institution has a lock on life.

Dick
www.aerovisiontech.com

[rep]

Kings Bay Sub Base in Georgia, and two others on the west coast one in San Diego and either Oregon or Washington.

I will admit I was quite shocked by that one. Ft Mac and Ft Guillum in Atlanta needed to go.

Rep

[chm2023]

Don't know enough about it to comment intelligently. Seems like the military always comes up with a rationale for closing down or building up.

Their bigger problem is getting recruits. Did you hear the story about the high school kid who taped his conversations with a recruiter? He (the kid) tells the recruiter he lied about graduating from high school and has a substance abuse problem. The recruiter replies, no problemo. The army of course maintains this is an isolated incident. What are the odds?:hammer:

[chip anderson]

If they close the submarine bases (and they won't as some costs in moving some things have shown up, making it more expensive to close than maintain the two we have). But the real question is how will we get females to drive out to the bluffs overlooking the ocean to watch the submarine races at midnight?