The chain of events that led to today’s combination of high-tempo submarine operations at Kings Bay and the complex construction project that reshaped the face of thousands of acres of land began in 1975. At that time, treaty negotiations between Spain and the United States were in progress. A proposed change to the U.S. base agreement with Spain was the withdrawal of the fleet ballistic-missile submarine squadron, Submarine Squadron 16, from its operational base at
Rota, Spain. Anticipating that this would take place, the Chief of Naval Operations ordered studies to select a new refit site on the East Coast.
In January 1976, the negotiators initialed a draft treaty between Spain and the U.S.; it called for withdrawal of the squadron from Rota by July 1979. The U.S. Congress ratified the treaty in June 1976.
A site-selection steering group evaluated more than 60 sites along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. By summer of 1976, the number of sites was narrowed to five: Narragansett Bay, R.I.; Cheatham Annex, Va.; Charleston, S.C.; Kings Bay, Ga.; and Mosquito Lagoon, Fla.
A comprehensive study evaluated each site against a number of criteria, including: costs, ability to meet required schedule, land availability to meet explosive safety requirements, operational capabilities and logistics consideration, environmental impact and growth potential for future requirements.
After careful review, Kings Bay was selected in January 1978. That same month, the first Navy personnel arrived in the Kings Bay area and started preparations for the orderly transfer of property from the Army to the Navy. Naval Submarine Support Base Kings Bay was established in a developmental status July 1, 1978. The base – now Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, not only occupies the former Army terminal land, but several thousand additional acres.
Located 45 miles north of Jacksonville, FL, Kings Bay
houses Submarine Group 10, Submarine Squadrons 16 and 20,
Strategic Weapons Facility, Atlantic and Trident Training
Facility. Submarines that are home-ported at Kings
Bay include USS West Virginia, USS Maryland, USS Thode
Island, USS Wyoming and USS Louisiana.
Main
phone numbers: commercial (912)573-2000 or
DSN 573-2001
Mailing
address: NSB Kings Bay, GA 31547
Population:
5,106 active duty; 8,329 family members; 2,453
civilians
Housing: 18
officer family units; 647 enlisted family units; wait
averages one year; 154 unaccompanied officer units; 1,684
unaccompanied enlisted spaces (912)563-2056
Temporary
lodging: 26-unit navy Lodge (912)882-6868
Family
Service Center: (912)573-4512
Schools: None
on base.
Child
Care: Center for 282; 25 approved homes
(912)673-2001
Health
care: Clinic. Appointments 1(800)529-4677;
Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base
has a
large size commissary - (912)673-3310,
a small exchange, a mall, and one mini-mall (912)882-6098. Recreation at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base
includes bowling, library, auto hobby, recreation center,
golf, gym, tennis, swimming, outdoor activities, camping,
and fishing.
