Naval Submarine Base New London sits on the Thames River in Groton, Connecticut, directly across from New London — the Navy's oldest submarine base and the place every submariner learns the trade. If you just got orders here, this page is your first 30 days, sorted.
The Post
Connecticut granted the Navy this land in 1868, and by 1872 the first two brick buildings and a T-shaped pier were standing on the Thames River in Groton. The base itself has always been in Groton — New London got tied to its name because that's where the base's post office, main offices, and early housing actually sat. Today the reservation runs more than 687 acres, plus another 530-plus acres of family housing, supporting a community of more than 21,000 sailors, civilian workers, and families.
Two submarine squadrons call it home — Submarine Squadron 4 and Submarine Squadron 12 — operating Virginia-class and Los Angeles-class attack submarines out of the Thames. This is also where the boats' crews are made: the Naval Submarine School here trains every officer and enlisted sailor headed for the submarine force (with the exception of nuclear-trained electronics technicians), including an eight-week underwater-survival program known as BESS. If you're reporting to your first boat, odds are you already spent time on this base before you ever pulled in-country.
One honest distinction worth knowing before you PCS here: General Dynamics' Electric Boat shipyard sits right next door in Groton, building and overhauling the submarines this base's squadrons crew — but Electric Boat is a civilian shipbuilder, not part of the base. It's the area's largest employer alongside the base itself, and it shapes the local economy and housing market as much as the Navy does. The U.S. Navy Submarine Force Museum, home to the historic USS Nautilus, sits along the same stretch of the Thames near the Submarine School — worth the visit even if you can't remember which gate is which yet.
Where You'll Actually Live
Five real choices, honest trade-offs. This is a small corner of Connecticut — every option here is close by New England standards.
Your PCS Checklist
From your first orders to closing on a house — sorted by where you actually are.
Report date, gaining command, dependent authorization, and any special instructions — mistakes here cascade into every later step.
Schedule your household-goods counseling session and pick a move type (full move, PPM/DITY, or partial DITY).
Book your packout date with your Personal Property Office as early as your report date allows.
Confirm every family member's DEERS record is current before you leave — it gates TRICARE, base access, and commissary privileges at the new station.
Pull your Certificate of Eligibility now so you know your buying power before you start touring homes.
TRICARE regions changed in 2024 — confirm your plan and provider network transfer automatically.
Many states now have expedited licensure compacts for military spouses — confirm before you arrive so there's no gap in income.
Can I Afford This?
Real basic pay, real BAH, real nearby home values — not a guess.
On the Map
The installation's actual location — pan, zoom, get directions.
Where People Live
Real, opt-in reports from people stationed here — never an exact address, just the general area.
Not enough reports yet to show a map for Naval Submarine Base New London.
Every ZIP area needs at least 2 reports before it appears here — that floor keeps any single answer from being identifiable. Be one of the first to help map this base below.
Do you live near Naval Submarine Base New London? Help us improve this.
Four quick questions, no login, completely anonymous. We only ever collect your general ZIP area — never your street address or name.
Local Favorites
Real spots around Groton, CT -- a Revolutionary War battlefield with a 135-ft granite monument, the free Submarine Force Museum next to USS Nautilus, and an 800-acre undeveloped coastal peninsula for hiking.
An 800-acre undeveloped coastal peninsula with a 3.6-mile hiking/biking loop, free parking, open year-round.
Revolutionary War battlefield -- site of the 1781 Battle of Groton Heights -- with a 135-ft granite monument, museum, and free grounds open daily.
Free admission Navy museum right next to the base, home of the world's first nuclear submarine, USS Nautilus.
Major family destination administratively located in the Town of Groton -- open daily with seasonal hours.
Open-air New England-style shopping village with 40+ independent shops and restaurants in the Groton-town area.
Waterfront seafood shack in Noank, a fishing village within the Town of Groton -- classic New England fried clams and lobster, seasonal.
Jodi's List
Verified veteran-owned listings around Groton and New London, straight from the directory.
Listings from Jodi's List, the veteran-owned business directory.
Own a veteran business near Naval Submarine Base New London?Get Listed Free →On-Base Resources
We only publish numbers we've verified — none are on file for this installation yet. The base operator directory on the official site is the reliable source.
Live From the Installation
Pulled from Naval Submarine Base New London's official public channels — updated automatically.
No updates ingested for Naval Submarine Base New London yet.
This feed pulls straight from the installation's official public channels once its news feed is connected — check the base's official site in the meantime.
The Playbook
This corner of Connecticut is small and rental inventory moves fast around every PCS cycle. Decide rent-vs-buy early — a VA loan preapproval costs nothing and strengthens every offer.
Knock out in-processing, DEERS updates, and TRICARE region transfer in week one — everything downstream (CDC waitlists, referrals) keys off it.
Groton, New London, Stonington, Waterford, and Ledyard each run their own school district — register as soon as you have an address, not after you arrive.
Squadron family groups and the veteran-business network above are the real intel channels here. Use them before you pay retail for anything.
Zero-down VA loans for eligible buyers, all 50 states from day one, and Personal Bankers who know the Groton/New London market. Start before you out-process.
Subject to credit approval and VA eligibility. The Veteran Alliance is a fintech company, not a bank; banking services provided through partner institutions.
Where are you at with housing near Naval Submarine Base New London?
Local Favorites
An 800-acre undeveloped coastal peninsula with a 3.6-mile hiking/biking loop, free parking, open year-round.
Revolutionary War battlefield -- site of the 1781 Battle of Groton Heights -- with a 135-ft granite monument, museum, and free grounds open daily.
Free admission Navy museum right next to the base, home of the world's first nuclear submarine, USS Nautilus.
Major family destination administratively located in the Town of Groton -- open daily with seasonal hours.
Open-air New England-style shopping village with 40+ independent shops and restaurants in the Groton-town area.
Waterfront seafood shack in Noank, a fishing village within the Town of Groton -- classic New England fried clams and lobster, seasonal.
We use cookies to enhance your banking experience, secure your account, and analyze site traffic. By continuing to use our platform, you agree to our use of cookies. Review our Privacy Policy for more details.
