
General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) is a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corporation and has been the primary builder of submarines for the United States Navy for over a century. Electric Boat was founded in 1899 by Isaac Rice as the Electric Boat Company to build John Philip Holland's submersible ship designs. Holland VI, later known as USS Holland, was the first submarine that this shipyard built and was commissioned into the United States Navy in 1900. Electric Boat has continued to innovate and has delivered increasingly capable and stealthy submarines. Electric Boat's primary operations are the shipyard in Groton, Connecticut, the automated hull-fabrication and outfitting facility in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, and engineering facilities in New London, Connecticut.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Establishment | 1899 |
| Founder | Isaac Rice |
| Focus | Submarine production |
| Number of Employees | 23,000 |
| Primary Operations | Shipyard in Groton, CT |
| Hull-fabrication and outfitting facility in Quonset Point, RI | |
| Engineering facilities in New London, CT | |
| First Submarine Built | USS Holland |
| First Nuclear Submarine Built | USS Nautilus |
| First Ballistic Missile Submarine Built | USS George Washington |
| Recent Achievements | Delivery of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) to the U.S. Navy |
| USS Iowa (SSN 797), the 24th submarine of the Virginia class | |
| $17.8 billion contract with Naval Sea Systems Command for ten Block IV Virginia-class attack submarines |
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Electric Boat has supplied submarines to the US Navy for over 100 years
Electric Boat, a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corporation, has been the primary builder of submarines for the US Navy for over a century. The company was founded in 1899 by Isaac Rice as the Electric Boat Company to build John Philip Holland's submersible ship designs. Holland VI, later renamed USS Holland when it was commissioned into the US Navy in 1900, was the first submarine built by the company. This marked the beginning of the US Submarine Force.
Electric Boat has continued to design, construct, and maintain submarines for the US Navy for over 125 years, consistently delivering first-of-a-kind ships. During World War I, the company designed and subcontracted the construction of submarines of various classes for the US Navy. From 1934 to the end of World War II, Electric Boat demonstrated the capabilities of its submarines in anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, land attacks, and defence of other fleet vessels. During World War II, the company built 74 submarines at its Groton plant, with its vessels accounting for 63% of all Japanese ships sunk during the war.
In the post-war era, Electric Boat continued to innovate and build submarines, including the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus, in 1954, and the first ballistic missile submarine, USS George Washington, in 1959. Electric Boat has also constructed submarines of the Ohio, Los Angeles, Seawolf, and Virginia classes. In recent years, Electric Boat has supplied nuclear-powered Virginia-class fast-attack submarines to the Navy and is the prime contractor for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program, which will replace the aging Ohio-class submarines.
Electric Boat's primary operations include a shipyard in Groton, Connecticut, a hull-fabrication facility in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, and engineering facilities in New London, Connecticut. With over 23,000 employees, the company is committed to delivering world-class submarines that protect sailors operating in harsh environments.
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The company was founded in 1899 by Isaac Rice
The Electric Boat Company was founded on February 7, 1899, by Isaac Rice, a prominent figure in the American chess world and a businessman with stakes in several companies, including the Electric Vehicle Company, Car Lighting and Power Company, and the American Casein Company.
Rice's foray into submarine manufacturing began when he became aware of the attempts to deliver the first modern submarines for the US Navy, which ran on electric power underwater. The management of John Philip Holland and Lewis Nixon, who owned the Crescent Shipyard in New Jersey, had successfully launched their first vessel, the Holland VI, in 1897. However, they faced financial difficulties in completing the final details and were running out of cash. Isaac Rice stepped in, taking over the company and renaming it the Electric Boat Company. After negotiations and multiple tests, the US Navy purchased Holland VI, renaming it USS Holland, and awarded Electric Boat a contract to build its first submarine.
Since its inception, Electric Boat has maintained a strong reputation for excellence in the design, construction, and lifecycle support of submarines for the US Navy. The company has consistently delivered first-of-a-kind ships by emphasizing technical excellence, innovation, and responsiveness to customer requirements. Electric Boat's primary focus is submarine production, but it also actively participates in adjacent markets, leveraging its expertise and technical innovation in naval surface ship and commercial nuclear programs.
Electric Boat's primary operations include a shipyard in Groton, Connecticut, an automated hull-fabrication facility in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, and engineering facilities in New London, Connecticut. With more than 23,000 employees, Electric Boat is among the largest manufacturers in New England. The company has supplied nuclear-powered Virginia-class fast-attack submarines to the Navy and is the prime contractor for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program, reflecting its longstanding commitment to delivering advanced submarines to the US Navy.
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Electric Boat has designed and built nuclear submarines
Electric Boat has been designing and building submarines for the US Navy for over a century. Established in 1899, Electric Boat has long-standing standards of excellence in the design, construction and lifecycle support of submarines. The company's first submarine was the Holland, a 54-foot military submarine purchased by the US Navy in 1900 as the inaugural vessel of the US submarine force.
Electric Boat has continued to innovate and develop ever-more capable submarines, delivering nuclear-powered Virginia-class fast-attack submarines to the Navy for 20 years. They are also the prime contractor for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program, which will replace the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines.
Electric Boat's primary operations are based in Groton, Connecticut, with additional facilities in Rhode Island and New London, Connecticut. With more than 23,000 employees, Electric Boat is one of the largest manufacturers in New England. The company's expertise in submarine production has led to its involvement in adjacent markets, including naval surface ship and commercial nuclear programs.
Electric Boat's submarines played a significant role during World War II, with their vessels accounting for 63% of all Japanese ships sunk during the war. The company built 74 submarines at its Groton plant during the war, showcasing its ability to successfully conduct a range of operations such as anti-surface warfare, intelligence gathering and land attacks.
Electric Boat's legacy of innovation and commitment to delivering world-class submarines have solidified its position as a leader in the submarine industry. The company's focus on protecting sailors, combined with its technical excellence and responsiveness to customer requirements, ensures that Electric Boat will continue to design and build advanced submarines for the US Navy.
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The company's primary operations are in Groton, CT
Electric Boat's primary operations are based in Groton, Connecticut, where the company occupies 118 acres along the Thames River. The Groton shipyard has been Electric Boat's primary submarine manufacturing facility since it built its first submarine there in 1931.
During World War II, the company built 74 submarines at the Groton plant, and Electric Boat ranked 77th among US corporations in the value of World War II military production contracts. The shipyard has continued to be the company's main submarine manufacturing facility in the post-war period, with Electric Boat delivering the first nuclear submarine, USS Nautilus, in 1954, and the first ballistic missile submarine, USS George Washington, in 1959.
Electric Boat's Groton location supports engineering and design work, as well as new construction and maintenance activities. The shipyard receives hull sections and modules from Quonset Point and Huntington Ingalls-Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia, which are then assembled into completed submarines. The site also includes two dry docks and various piers and shops that support maintenance and repair activities for active submarines, primarily those assigned to the Naval Submarine Base in New London, Connecticut.
In addition to its shipyard in Groton, Electric Boat also operates an automated hull-fabrication and outfitting facility in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, and an engineering building in New London, Connecticut. With more than 23,000 employees, Electric Boat is among the largest manufacturers in New England.
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Electric Boat's submarines played a significant role in World War II
Electric Boat submarines played a significant role in World War II. The company produced about half of the Navy's victorious submarine force, including the USS Grunion, a Gato-class submarine. Electric Boat submarines were responsible for a significant number of successful outcomes during the war.
Electric Boat began building submarines during World War I, but it was in the decade between the Cuttlefish launch in 1934 and the end of World War II that the company made its most impressive accomplishments. Electric Boat submarines successfully conducted a variety of operations, including anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, land attacks, and the defence of other fleet vessels.
During World War II, Electric Boat submarines played a crucial role in several military events. For example, the submarine Barb surfaced near Japan's Namkwan Harbor, evaded enemy escorts, and torpedoed a concentration of 30 ships. In another incident, the submarine Darter sank a large Japanese cruiser and damaged a second during a historic battle in the Philippines.
The impact of Electric Boat's submarines on 20th-century warfare was significant, and their performance affirmed John Holland's belief in the ability of submarines to change the course of a war at sea. Electric Boat's innovations and contributions to submarine technology during World War II were instrumental in the success of the US Navy's submarine operations.
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Frequently asked questions
Electric Boat, also known as General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), is a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corporation. It is a company that designs, constructs and maintains submarines.
Electric Boat was founded in 1899 by Isaac Rice as the Electric Boat Company to build John Philip Holland's submersible ship designs.
The first submarine built by Electric Boat was the Holland, a 54-foot military submarine. It was purchased by the US Navy and became the inaugural vessel of the US submarine force.
Electric Boat has built numerous notable submarines over the years, including the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, and the USS George Washington, the first ballistic missile submarine. They have also constructed submarines of the Ohio, Los Angeles, Seawolf, and Virginia classes.
Electric Boat's primary focus is on submarine production, but they also participate in adjacent markets such as naval surface ship and commercial nuclear programs. They are one of the largest manufacturers in New England, with over 23,000 employees.











































