Victory Yard

Victory Yard
Victory Yard, 1943
Victory Yard Aerial
Victory Yard, Aerial

The Victory Yard was a temporary expansion of the General Dynamics Electric Boat facility in Groton, Connecticut, to dramatically increase submarine construction during World War II.

Early property ownership

On 5 February 1942, the US Navy purchased the former Groton Iron Works property from Alfred Holter and Shell Oil Company for $222,000 using condemnation proceedings. $9.5 million was spent to construct the Victory Yard, where General Dynamics Electric Boat began building submarines on 22 July 1942. On 3 November 1943 a Federal Court Committee awarded an additional $203,000 to the former owners.

Submarines built at the Victory Yard

EB Hull # Way Name Class Keel LaidLaunchedCommissioned
662-VUSS Dace (SS-247)Gato22 July 1942 25 April 1943 23 July 1943
683-VUSS Dorado (SS-248)27 August 1942 23 May 1943 28 August 1943
714-VUSS Flasher (SS-249)30 September 1942 20 June 1943 25 September 1943
735-VUSS Flier (SS-250)30 October 1942 11 July 1943 18 October 1943
766-VUSS Flounder (SS-251)5 December 1942 22 August 1943 29 November 1943
787-VUSS Gabilan (SS-252)5 January 1943 19 September 1943 28 December 1943
798-VUSS Bream (SS-243)5 February 1943 17 October 1943 24 January 1944
809-VUSS Cavalla (SS-244)4 March 1943 14 November 1943 29 February 1944
8110-VUSS Cobia (SS-245)17 March 1943 28 November 1943 29 March 1944
821-VUSS Croaker (SS-246)1 April 1943 19 December 1943 21 April 1944
892-VUSS Becuna (SS-319)Balao29 April 1943 30 January 1944 27 May 1944
913-VUSS Besugo (SS-321)27 May 1943 27 February 1944 19 June 1944
934-VUSS Caiman (SS-323)24 June 1943 30 March 1944 17 July 1944
955-VUSS Blower (SS-325)15 July 1943 23 April 1944 10 August 1944
986-VUSS Charr (SS-328)26 August 1943 28 May 1944 23 September 1944
1007-VUSS Brill (SS-330)23 September 1943 25 June 1944 26 October 1944
1028-VUSS Bullhead (SS-332)21 October 1943 16 July 1944 4 December 1944
1049-VUSS Cabezon (SS-334)18 November 1943 27 August 1944 30 December 1944
10610-VUSS Capitaine (SS-336)2 December 1943 1 October 1944 26 January 1945
1081-VUSS Carp (SS-338)23 December 1943 12 November 1944 28 February 1945
1102-VUSS Entemedor (SS-340)3 February 1944 17 December 1944 6 April 1945
1123-VUSS Chopper (SS-342)2 March 1944 4 February 1945 25 May 1945
1144-VUSS Cobbler (SS-344)3 April 1944 1 April 1945 8 August 1945
1165-VUSS Corporal (SS-346)27 April 1944 10 June 1945 9 November 1945

Subsequent property uses

On 13 January 1945, General Dynamics Electric Boat announced that $3,000,000 will be spent to convert the Victory Yard to manufacture 105mm shells.

On 18 December 1946, Pfizer Inc purchased the property from the War Assets Administration. Purchase price was $911,999.

References

  1. ↑ "Iron Works Property Turned Over to E.B.". The Day. 5 February 1942. p. 10. Retrieved on 13 January 2011.
  2. ↑ "EB". The Day. 2 September 1995. p. A5. Retrieved on 13 January 2011.
  3. ↑ $203,000 More for Groton Works". The New York Times. 3 November 1943. Retrieved on 13 January 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Electric Boat Production Record". Haze Gray & Underway. Retrieved on 24 January 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 "USS Dace (SS-247)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 "USS Dorado (SS-248)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 "USS Flasher (SS-249)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 "USS Flier (SS-250)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 "USS Flounder (SS-251)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 "USS Gabilan (SS-252)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  11. 1 2 3 "USS Bream (SS-243)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  12. 1 2 3 "USS Cavalla (SS-244)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  13. 1 2 3 "USS Cobia (SS-245)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  14. 1 2 3 "USS Croaker (SS-246)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  15. 1 2 3 "USS Becuna (SS-319)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  16. 1 2 3 "USS Besugo (SS-321)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  17. 1 2 3 "USS Caiman (SS-323)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  18. 1 2 3 "USS Blower (SS-325)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  19. 1 2 3 "USS Charr (SS-328)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  20. 1 2 3 "USS Brill (SS-330)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  21. 1 2 3 "USS Bullhead (SS-332)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  22. 1 2 3 "USS Cabezon (SS-334)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  23. 1 2 3 "USS Capitaine (SS-336)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  24. 1 2 3 "USS Carp (SS-338)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  25. 1 2 3 "USS Entemedor (SS-340)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  26. 1 2 3 "USS Chopper (SS-342)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  27. 1 2 3 "USS Cobbler (SS-344)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  28. 1 2 3 "USS Corporal (SS-346)". Wikipedia. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  29. ↑ "Electric Boat Co., Groton, Gets “Very Large Order” For Manufacture of 105 MM Shells". Lewiston Evening Journal. 13 January 1945. p. 7. Retrieved on 8 January 2011.
  30. ↑ "New London, Groton Salute Pfizer for Community Role; Plaque Given at Breakfast". The Day. 12 November 1954. p. 3. Retrieved on 10 January 2011.
  31. ↑ PFIZER BUYS WAR PLANT; Chemical Concern Gets WAA Shipyard at Groton for $911,999". The New York Times. 19 December 1946. Retrieved on 13 January 2011.

41°20′36.08″N 72°4′50.8″W / 41.3433556°N 72.080778°W / 41.3433556; -72.080778