A submarine squadron (SUBRON) is a naval formation or unit in such states such as the United Kingdom, United States, and Russia/Soviet Union. In France the equivalent unit is the (ESNA), part of the French submarine forces (and before the Second World War, ).
Royal Navy Submarine flotillas became submarine divisions in 1952. was a Porpoise-class submarine belonging first to Faslane's 3rd Submarine Squadron and then to Singapore's 7th Submarine Squadron (United Kingdom).
From the early 1960s the structure was: 1st Submarine Squadron – 2nd Submarine Squadron – Plymouth 3rd Submarine Squadron – Faslane 4th Submarine Squadron 4th Submarine Division – Sydney (established 1948, disbanded 1969) 5th Submarine Division – Malta. It was announced on 31 July 1964, that British submarines were to leave Malta. Captain C.H. Hammer was last Captain S.M. 5. HMS Ausonia, the division depot ship, set sail for the UK on 7 August 1964, and then paid off. Submarine depot ships at Malta were Forth (1948–1960), HMS Narvik (1960–1962), and then Ausonia from 1962 to 1964. 6th Submarine Division – Halifax, Nova Scotia Three A-class submarines arrived 1954, served with the division, disbanded c. 1967) See also Ambrosia: A Scrapbook of the Sixth Submarine Squadron Division at work and play 1955–1966. 7th Submarine Division – Singapore (disbanded by 1971) 10th Submarine Squadron – Formed Faslane late 1960s for the SSBNs
In 1971 HMNB Clyde at Faslane in Scotland was home to the Third Submarine Squadron of Nuclear Fleet and Diesel Patrol Submarines, 'the fighters', and the 10th Submarine Squadron consisting of the four Polaris submarines, 'the bombers'. The Base also conducted the training of all submarines before they joined their Squadrons and this was known as 'work up'. On the decommissioning of the Polaris submarines the 10th Submarine Squadron re-equipped with ballistic missile submarines.
1st Submarine Squadron was located at HMS Dolphin during the early 1990s. In 2001, the five s were part of the 1st Submarine Squadron based at Faslane and the seven boats were with the Second Submarine Squadron at Devonport.
See List of squadrons and flotillas of the Royal Navy.
Canada
From 1966 to 1996 the First Canadian Submarine Squadron was in existence with the Royal Canadian Navy's three Oberon-class submarines.
United States Navy Up until World War II and for a little after, submarine squadrons could have several Submarine Divisions (SubDivs), often pairs of submarines. Reserve submarine divisions also existed after World War II.
A SUBRON usually consists of three or more submarines. It is the submarine force equivalent to a destroyer squadron in the surface Navy. The officer in charge of SUBRON ONE is designated Commander Submarine Squadron One or COMSUBRON ONE. However, unlike a destroyer squadron—which actually moves its staff aboard its ships and deploys with them as an operational Task Element commander—a SUBRON commander and his staff always remain in homeport, and are responsible only for the training, equipping and administering of the ships under its umbrella. A submarine squadron is usually commanded by a Captain (O-6) who has already had at least one tour as commander of a submarine.
Several submarine squadrons may be organized into a Submarine Group (SUBGRU), headed under a flag officer. For instance, SUBRON 17, SUBRON 19 and DEVRON 5 are part of SUBGRU 9 in Bangor, Washington. The overall responsibility for submarines on the west coast of the United States is taken by the Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC); on the east coast, the same responsibility rests with the Commander Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet (COMSUBLANT). The latter is the senior of the two, and thus also plays a secondary role as Commander, Submarine Force (COMSUBFOR).
When a submarine deploys, for instance as part of a carrier strike group, operational command is transferred to the numbered fleet commander for the theater to which the submarine is deploying, e.g., Commander Fifth Fleet.
List of submarine squadrons Odd numbered squadrons are West Coast (Pacific Fleet), even numbered East Coast (Atlantic Fleet).
Pacific Fleet squadrons
Squadron name Base Status NotesSubmarine Squadron 1(SUBRON1)Naval Station Pearl HarborPearl Harbor, Hawaii Active (1941–Present)Submarine Squadron 3(SUBRON3)Naval Station Pearl HarborPearl Harbor, HawaiiDecommissioned (2012) Consolidated under SUBRON 1 & 7 in 2012Submarine Development Squadron 5(DEVRON5)Naval Base KitsapBangor, WashingtonActiveSubmarine Squadron 7 (SUBRON7)Naval Station Pearl HarborPearl Harbor, HawaiiActive (1951–Present)Submarine Squadron 11(SUBRON11)Naval Base Point LomaSan Diego, CaliforniaActiveSubmarine Squadron 15(SUBRON15)Naval Base GuamApra Harbor, GuamActiveSubmarine Squadron 17(SUBRON17)Naval Base KitsapBangor, WashingtonActiveSubmarine Squadron 19(SUBRON19)Naval Base KitsapBangor, WashingtonActiveSubmarine Squadron 21(SUBRON21)Manama, BahrainActive (2014–Present)
Atlantic Fleet squadrons
Squadron name Base Status NotesSubmarine Squadron 2(SUBRON2)Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, MaineDecommissioned (2012) from Submarine Base New London. Recommissioned in 2021 in Portsmouth https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2870423/us-navy-establishes-submarine-squadron-two-at-portsmouth-naval-shipyard/Consolidated under SUBRON 4 in 2012Submarine Squadron 4(SUBRON4)Naval Submarine Base New LondonGroton, ConnecticutActive (1997–Present)Submarine Squadron 6(SUBRON6)Naval Station NorfolkNorfolk, VirginiaActiveSubmarine Squadron 8(SUBRON8)Naval Station NorfolkNorfolk, VirginiaActiveConsolidated under SUBRON 6 in 2011. Reestablished February 18, 2022. Responsible for the control of new submarine construction and ongoing submarine operating maintenance schedules of Los Angeles-class attack submarines and Virginia-class submarines homeported in Norfolk, Va.Submarine Squadron 10(SUBRON10)Naval Submarine Base New LondonGroton, ConnecticutDecommissioned (1991)First all nuclear submarine squadron. Originally activated during World War II. Stationed at State Pier in New London, Connecticut from circa 1951 to 1991.Submarine Squadron 12(SUBRON12)Naval Submarine Base New LondonGroton, ConnecticutSUBDEVRON 12 changed to Submarine Squadron 12 in 2016Prior to 1 May 1977 was designated Submarine Development Group 2 (DEVGRU2).Submarine Squadron 14(SUBRON14)Holy Loch, Scotland Decommissioned (1992)Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) submarine squadron. Headquarters was at Submarine Base in Groton, Connecticut. Submarines were forward deployed to Holy Loch, Scotland.Submarine Squadron 16(SUBRON16)Naval Submarine Base Kings BayKing's Bay, GeorgiaActiveSubmarine Squadron 20(SUBRON20)Naval Submarine Base Kings BayKing's Bay, GeorgiaActiveWith Asiatic Fleet on December 7, 1941.Submarine Squadron 22(SUBRON22)La Maddalena, Italy 1972–2008Known as Submarine Refit and Training Group La Maddalena until the mid-1980s
List of submarine groups
Group name Base Squadrons Status NotesSubmarine Group 2Naval Submarine Base New LondonGroton, ConnecticutDEVGRU2, DEVRON 12/SUBRON 12, SUBRONs 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14Disestablished on August 22, 2014Established in August 1975. Prior to mid-1970s was named Submarine Flotilla 2. Re-established on 1 October 2019.Submarine Group 7Yokosuka, JapanSUBRON 15ActiveAlso functions as CTF-74 under Seventh Fleet, and as CTF-54 under Fifth FleetSubmarine Group 8Naples, Italy ActiveAlso functions as CTF-64 and CTF-69 under Sixth FleetSubmarine Group 9Bangor, WA DEVRON 5, SUBRONs 17 and 19ActiveSubmarine Group 10Kings Bay, GASUBRONs 16 and 20Active
References
External links U.S. Submarine Squadron commanders during the Second World War