Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS), often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing US Navy submarines. The facility is sometimes confused with the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia.

History
Established on 12 June 1800 during the administration of President John Adams, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is the oldest continuously-operating shipyard in the United States Navy. It is situated on a cluster of conjoined islands called Seavey's Island in the Piscataqua River, whose swift tidal current prevents ice from blocking navigation to the Atlantic Ocean.

The area has a long tradition of shipbuilding. Since colonial settlement, New Hampshire and Maine forests provided lumber for wooden boat construction. Commissioned here in 1690, the Falkland is considered the first British warship built in the Thirteen Colonies. The Royal Navy reserved the tallest and straightest Eastern White Pine trees for masts, emblazing the bark with a crown symbol. During the Revolution, the USS Raleigh (1776) was built in 1776 on Badger's Island in Kittery, and would be the first vessel to fly an American flag into battle. Even though she was captured and served in the British Navy, Raleigh has been depicted on the Seal of New Hampshire since 1784. Other warships followed, including the USS Ranger (1777) launched in 1777. Commanded by Captain John Paul Jones, it would be the first U. S. Navy vessel to receive an official salute at sea from a foreign power. When Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert decided to build the first federal shipyard, he located it where a proven workforce had proximity to abundant raw materials—Fernald's Island, for which the government paid $5,500. To protect the new installation, old Fort William and Mary at the mouth of Portsmouth Harbor was rebuilt and renamed Fort Constitution.

Commodore Isaac Hull was the first naval officer to command the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, taking charge in 1800 until 1802, and again in 1812 during the War of 1812. The yard's first production was the 74-gun ship of the line USS Washington (1814), supervised by local master shipbuilder William Badger and launched in 1814. Barracks were built in 1820, with Marine barracks added in 1827. A hospital was established in 1834. Architect Alexander Parris would be appointed chief engineer for the base. In 1838, the Franklin Shiphouse was completed -- 240 ft long, 131 ft wide and measuring 72 ft from floor to center of its ridgepole. It carried 130 tons of slate on a gambrel roof. It was lengthened in 1854 to accommodate the USS Franklin (1864) (from which it took its name), the largest wooden warship built at the yard, and requiring a decade to finish. Considered one of the largest shiphouses in the country, the structure burned at 5:00 a.m. on 10 March 1936. Perhaps the most famous vessel ever overhauled at the yard was the  Constitution, also called "Old Ironsides," in 1855.

Prisoners of war from the Spanish-American War were encamped in 1898 on the grounds of the base. In 1905, construction began on the Portsmouth Naval Prison, a military prison dubbed "The Castle" because of its resemblance to a crenellated castle. It was the principal prison for the Navy and Marine Corps, as well as housing for many German U-Boat crews after capture, until it closed in 1974. Also in 1905, the Portsmouth Navy Yard hosted the Treaty of Portsmouth which ended the Russo-Japanese War. For arranging the peace conference, President Theodore Roosevelt would win the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize. Delegates met in the General Stores Building, now the Administration Building (called Building 86). In 2005, a summer-long series of events marked the 100th anniversary of the signing of the treaty, including a visit by a Navy destroyer, a parade, and a re-enactment of the arrival of diplomats from the two nations.

During World War I, the shipyard began constructing submarines, with the L-8 being the first ever built by a U. S. navy yard. Meanwhile, the base continued to overhaul and repair surface vessels. Consequently, the workforce grew to nearly 5,000 civilians. It would grow to almost 25,000 civilians in World War II when over 70 submarines were constructed at the yard, with a record of 4 launched in a single day. When the war ended, the shipyard became the Navy's center for submarine design and development. In 1953, the USS Albacore (AGSS-569) would revolutionize submarine design around the world with its teardrop hull and round cross-section. It is now a museum and tourist attraction in Portsmouth. USS Swordfish (SSN-579), the first nuclear-powered submarine built at the base, was launched in 1957. The last submarine built here was the USS Sand Lance (SSN-660), launched in 1969. Today the shipyard provides overhaul, refueling and modernization work.

In 1994, the shipyard was placed on the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) for environmental investigations/restorations under CERCLA (Superfund). In 2005, the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure Committee) placed the yard on a list for base closures, effective by 2008. Employees organized the Save Our Shipyard campaign to influence the committee to reverse its decision. On 24 August 2005, the base was taken off the list and continues operating under its motto, "From Sails to Atoms."

The shipyard earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2005. The MUC recognized the shipyard for meritorious service from September 11, 2001 to August 30, 2004. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard accomplishments achieved during that period included completion of six major submarine availabilities early, exceeding Net Operation Results financial goals, reducing injuries by more than 50 percent, and exceeding the Secretary of Defense’s Fiscal Year 2006 Stretch Goal for lost workday compensation rates two years early.

In addition to the Navy presence, the Coast Guard uses the Portsmouth Navy Yard as the home port for the medium-endurance cutters USCGC Reliance (WMEC 615), USCGC Tahoma (WMEC-908), and USCGC Campbell (WMEC-909).

Boundary dispute
New Hampshire laid claim to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard until the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the case, asserting judicial estoppel. Had it been found to belong to New Hampshire, base employees (and their spouses regardless of whether they themselves worked in Maine) from that state would no longer be required to pay Maine income tax. Despite the court's ruling, New Hampshire's 2006 Session House Joint Resolution 1 reaffirmed its sovereignty assertion over Seavey's Island and the base.

Notable ships built at shipyard predecessors
Piscataqua River region
 * 1690 — HMS Falkland - (50-gun Fourth-rate)
 * 1696 — HMS Bedford Galley - (32-gun Fifth-rate)
 * 1749 — HMS America - (60-gun Fourth-rate)

Badger's Island
 * 1776 — USS Raleigh (1776) - (22-gun Frigate)
 * 1777 — USS Ranger (1777) - (18-gun Sloop-of-war)
 * 1782 — USS America (1782) - (74-gun Ship of the line)
 * 1791 — USS Scammel - (14-gun Schooner)
 * 1797 — USS Crescent - (36-gun Frigate)
 * 1798 — USS Portsmouth (1798) - (24-gun Sloop-of-war)
 * 1799 — USS Congress (1799) - (38-gun Frigate)

Notable ships built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

 * 1814 — USS Washington (1814) - (74-gun Ship of the line)
 * 1820 — USS Porpoise (1820) - (11-gun Schooner)
 * 1828 — USS Concord - (24-gun Sloop-of-war)
 * 1839 — USS Preble (1839) - (20-gun Sloop-of-war)
 * 1841 — USS Congress (1841) - (50-gun Frigate)
 * 1842 — USS Saratoga (1842) - (24-gun Sloop-of-war)
 * 1843 — USS Portsmouth (1843) - (24-gun Sloop-of-war)
 * 1848 — USS Saranac (1848) - (steam sloop)
 * 1855 — USS Santee (1855) - (44-gun Frigate)
 * 1855 — LV-1 - Lightship Nantucket
 * 1859 — USS Mohican (1859) - (steam sloop)
 * 1861 — USS Kearsarge (1861) - (steam sloop)
 * 1861 — USS Ossipee (1861) - (steam sloop)
 * 1861 — USS Sebago (1861) - (side-wheel steam gunboat)
 * 1861 — USS Mahaska (1861) - (side-wheel steam gunboat)
 * 1862 — USS Sonoma (1862) - (side-wheel steam gunboat)
 * 1862 — USS Conemaugh (1862) - (side-wheel steam gunboat)
 * 1862 — USS Sassacus (1862) - (side-wheel steam gunboat)
 * 1862 — USS Sacramento (1862) - (steam sloop)
 * 1863 — USS Nipsic (1863) - (steam gunboat)
 * 1863 — USS Shawmut (1863) - (steam gunboat)
 * 1863 — USS Agamenticus (1863) - (Miantonomoh class monitor)
 * 1864 — USS New Hampshire (1864) - (74-gun Ship of the line)
 * 1864 — USS Contoocook (1864) - (steam sloop)
 * 1864 — USS Franklin (1864) - (steam frigate)
 * 1864 — USS Pawtuxet - (side-wheel steam gunboat)
 * 1864 — USS Blue Light (1863) - (tugboat)
 * 1864 — USS Port Fire (1864) - (tugboat)
 * 1865 — USS Resaca (1865) - (steam gunboat)
 * 1866 — USS Piscataqua (1866) - (steam frigate)
 * 1867 — USS Minnetonka (1867) - (steam frigate)
 * 1868 — USS Benicia (1868) - (steam sloop)
 * 1874 — USS Enterprise (1874) - (steam sloop)
 * 1905 — USS Boxer (1905) - (training brigantine)
 * 1908 — USS Patapsco (AT-10) - (tugboat)
 * 1917 — USS L-8 (SS-48) - (United States L class submarine)
 * 1918 — USS O-1 (SS-62) - (United States O class submarine)
 * 1918 — USS S-3 (SS-107) - (United States S class submarine)
 * 1919 — USS S-4 (SS-109) - (United States S class submarine)
 * 1919 — USS S-5 (SS-110) - (United States S class submarine)
 * 1919 — USS S-6 (SS-111) - (United States S class submarine)
 * 1920 — USS S-7 (SS-112) - (United States S class submarine)
 * 1920 — USS S-8 (SS-113) - (United States S class submarine)
 * 1920 — USS S-9 (SS-114) - (United States S class submarine)
 * 1920 — USS S-10 (SS-115) - (United States S class submarine)
 * 1921 — USS S-11 (SS-116) - (United States S class submarine)
 * 1921 — USS S-12 (SS-117) - (United States S class submarine)
 * 1921 — USS S-13 (SS-118) - (United States S class submarine)
 * 1924 — USS Barracuda (SS-163) - (diesel submarine)
 * 1924 — USS Bass (SS-164) - (diesel submarine)
 * 1924 — USS Bonita (SS-165) - (diesel submarine)
 * 1928 — USS Argonaut (SM-1) - (diesel submarine minelayer) 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1929 — USS Narwhal (SS-167) - (diesel submarine cruiser) sank 6 ships in 15 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1932 — USS Dolphin (SS-169) - (diesel submarine) 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1933 — USS Cachalot (SS-170) - (diesel submarine) 3 World War II Pacific patrols USSCachalotLaunch.jpg
 * 1934 — USCGC Hudson (WYT-87) - (USCG Calumet class harbor tug)
 * 1935 — USS Porpoise (SS-172) - (fleet submarine) sank 2 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1935 — USS Pike (SS-173) - (fleet submarine) sank 1 ship in 8 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1936 — USS Plunger (SS-179) - (fleet submarine) sank 13 ships in 12 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1936 — USS Pollack (SS-180) - (fleet submarine) sank 11 ships in 11 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1937 — USS Snapper (SS-185) - (fleet submarine) sank 4 ships in 11 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1937 — USS Stingray (SS-186) - (fleet submarine) sank 2 ships in 16 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1938 — USS Sculpin (SS-191) - (fleet submarine) sank 3 ships in 9 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1939 — USS Sailfish (SS-192) - (fleet submarine) sank 7 ships in 12 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1939 — USS Searaven (SS-196) - (fleet submarine) sank 3 ships in 13 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1939 — USS Seawolf (SS-197) - (fleet submarine) sank 18 ships in 15 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1940 — USS Triton (SS-201) - (fleet submarine) sank 11 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1940 — USS Trout (SS-202) - (fleet submarine) sank 12 ships in 11 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1941 — USS Marlin (SS-205) - (coastal submarine)
 * 1940 — USS Grayling (SS-209) - (fleet submarine) sank 2 ships in 8 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1940 — USS Grenadier (SS-210) - (fleet submarine) sank 1 ship in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1941 — USS Drum (SS-228) - (fleet submarine) sank 12 ships in 13 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1941 — USS Flying Fish (SS-229) - (fleet submarine) sank 15 ships in 12 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1941 — USS Finback (SS-230) - (fleet submarine) sank 11 ships in 12 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1941 — USS Haddock (SS-231) - (fleet submarine) sank 8 ships in 13 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1941 — USS Halibut (SS-232) - (fleet submarine) sank 12 ships in 10 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Herring (SS-233) - (fleet submarine) sank 6 ships in 5 Atlantic and 3 Pacific World War II patrols
 * 1942 — USS Kingfish (SS-234) - (fleet submarine) sank 14 ships in 12 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Shad (SS-235) - (fleet submarine) sank 3 ships in 11 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Runner (SS-275) - (fleet submarine) 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Sawfish (SS-276) - (fleet submarine) sank 6 ships in 10 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Scamp (SS-277) - (fleet submarine) sank 5 ships in 8 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Scorpion (SS-278) - (fleet submarine) sank 4 ships in 4 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Snook (SS-279) - (fleet submarine) sank 17 ships in 9 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Steelhead (SS-280) - (fleet submarine) sank 4 ships in 7 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Balao (SS-285) - (fleet submarine) sank 6 ships in 10 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Billfish (SS-286) - (fleet submarine) sank 3 ships in 8 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Bowfin (SS-287) - (fleet submarine) sank 16 ships in 9 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Cabrilla (SS-288) - (fleet submarine) sank 7 ships in 8 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1942 — USS Capelin (SS-289) - (fleet submarine) sank 1 ship in 1 World War II Pacific patrol
 * 1942 — USS Cisco (SS-290) - (fleet submarine) 1 World War II Pacific patrol
 * 1943 — USS Crevalle (SS-291) - (fleet submarine) sank 8 ships in 7 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Apogon (SS-308) - (fleet submarine) sank 3 ships in 8 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Aspro (SS-309) - (fleet submarine) sank 6 ships in 7 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Batfish (SS-310) - (fleet submarine) sank 6 ships in 7 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Archerfish (SS-311) - (fleet submarine) sank 2 ships in 7 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Burrfish (SS-312) - (fleet submarine) sank 1 ship in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Sand Lance (SS-381) - (fleet submarine) sank 10 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Picuda (SS-382) - (fleet submarine) sank 13 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Pampanito (SS-383) - (fleet submarine) sank 5 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Parche (SS-384) - (fleet submarine) sank 8 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Bang (SS-385) - (fleet submarine) sank 8 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Pilotfish (SS-386) - (fleet submarine) 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Pintado (SS-387) - (fleet submarine) sank 8 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Pipefish (SS-388) - (fleet submarine) sank 2 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Piranha (SS-389) - (fleet submarine) sank 2 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Plaice (SS-390) - (fleet submarine) sank 4 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Pomfret (SS-391) - (fleet submarine) sank 4 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Sterlet (SS-392) - (fleet submarine) sank 4 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1943 — USS Queenfish (SS-393) - (fleet submarine) sank 8 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Razorback (SS-394) - (fleet submarine) 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Redfish (SS-395) - (fleet submarine) sank 5 ships in 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Ronquil (SS-396) - (fleet submarine) sank 2 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Scabbardfish (SS-397) - (fleet submarine) 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Segundo (SS-398) - (fleet submarine) sank 2 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sea Cat (SS-399) - (fleet submarine) 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sea Devil (SS-400) - (fleet submarine) sank 5 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sea Dog (SS-401) - (fleet submarine) sank 9 ships in 4 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sea Fox (SS-402) - (fleet submarine) 4 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Atule (SS-403) - (fleet submarine) sank 6 ships in 4 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Spikefish (SS-404) - (fleet submarine) sank 1 ship in 4 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sea Owl (SS-405) - (fleet submarine) sank 2 ships in 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sea Poacher (SS-406) - (fleet submarine) 4 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sea Robin (SS-407) - (fleet submarine) sank 6 ships in 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Sennet (SS-408) - (fleet submarine) sank 7 ships in 4 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Piper (SS-409) - (fleet submarine) 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Threadfin (SS-410) - (fleet submarine) sank 3 ships in 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Tench (SS-417) - (fleet submarine) sank 4 ships in 3 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Thornback (SS-418) - (fleet submarine) 1 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Tigrone (SS-419) - (fleet submarine) 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Tirante (SS-420) - (fleet submarine) sank 8 ships in 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Trutta (SS-421) - (fleet submarine) 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Toro (SS-422) - (fleet submarine) 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Torsk (SS-423) - (fleet submarine) sank 3 ships in 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Quillback (SS-424) - (fleet submarine) 1 World War II Pacific patrol
 * 1944 — USS Argonaut (SS-475) - (fleet submarine)
 * 1944 — USS Runner (SS-476) - (fleet submarine) sank 1 ship in 2 World War II Pacific patrols
 * 1944 — USS Conger (SS-477) - (fleet submarine)
 * 1944 — USS Cutlass (SS-478) - (fleet submarine) 1 World War II Pacific patrol
 * 1944 — USS Diablo (SS-479) - (fleet submarine)
 * 1944 — USS Medregal (SS-480) - (fleet submarine)
 * 1945 — USS Requin (SS-481) - (fleet submarine)
 * 1945 — USS Irex (SS-482) - (fleet submarine)
 * 1945 — USS Sea Leopard (SS-483) - (fleet submarine)
 * 1945 — USS Odax (SS-484) - (fleet submarine)
 * 1945 — USS Sirago (SS-485) - (fleet submarine)
 * 1945 — USS Pomodon (SS-486) - (fleet submarine)
 * 1945 — USS Remora (SS-487) - (fleet submarine)
 * 1945 — USS Sarda (SS-488) - (fleet submarine)
 * 1945 — USS Spinax (SS-489) - (fleet submarine)
 * 1945 — USS Volador (SS-490) - (fleet submarine)
 * 1951 — USS Tang (SS-563) - (diesel submarine)
 * 1951 — USS Wahoo (SS-565) - (diesel submarine)
 * 1951 — USS Gudgeon (SS-567) - (diesel submarine)
 * 1953 — USS Albacore (AGSS-569) - (experimental diesel submarine)
 * 1955 — USS Sailfish (SSR-572) - (RADAR picket submarine)
 * 1956 — USS Salmon (SSR-573) - (RADAR picket submarine)
 * 1958 — USS Growler (SSG-577) - (guided missile diesel submarine)
 * 1958 — USS Swordfish (SSN-579) - (nuclear submarine)
 * 1958 — USS Barbel (SS-580) - (fast diesel submarine)
 * 1958 — USS Seadragon (SSN-584) - (nuclear submarine)
 * 1960 — USS Thresher (SSN-593) - (nuclear fast attack submarine)
 * 1960 — USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602) - (nuclear ballistic missile submarine)
 * 1963 — USS Jack (SSN-605) - (nuclear fast attack submarine)
 * 1961 — USS Tinosa (SSN-606) - (nuclear fast attack submarine)
 * 1963 — USS John Adams (SSBN-620) - (nuclear ballistic missile submarine)
 * 1964 — USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636) - (nuclear ballistic missile submarine)
 * 1967 — USS Grayling (SSN-646) - (nuclear fast attack submarine)
 * 1968 — USS Dolphin (AGSS-555) - (experimental diesel submarine)
 * 1969 — USS Sand Lance (SSN-660) - (nuclear fast attack submarine)