In celebration of EB’s 120th birthday, over the last week, we’ve been sharing historical tidbits about the company through a variety of channels including Jeff Geiger’s EB Bulletin, the WIBs, Homeport, EB Landing and EB’s social media channels:
Test your knowledge by answering the questions below. The answers are provided in a link at the end of the quiz.
1.In 1775, CT’s David Bushnell built the very first torpedo boat and the first underwater craft to employ a screw propeller. What’s the name of this boat?
2.John Holland, the inventor of the first U.S. Navy submarine, was born where and when?
a.Groton, CT, United States, July 4, 1846
b.Liverpool, England, February 7, 1849
c.County Clare, Ireland, February 24, 1842
3.Who was Electric Boat’s first President?
4.What year did the first U.S. Navy Submarine, USS Holland (S-1) join the fleet?
5.Who was the first U.S. President to dive below the surface in an EB submarine?
a.William McKinley
b.Theodore Roosevelt
c.William Howard Taft
6.In what year did EB acquire the New London Ship and Engine Co. in Groton, CT?
a.1899
b.1906
c.1911
d.1916
7.In 1917, which became the first U.S. submarine to cross the Atlantic Ocean under its own power?
8.The first submarine built by Electric Boat at the Groton shipyard was the R-1, launched in 1926. Which country was it built for?
a.Great Britain
b.The U.S.
c.Russia
d.Peru
9.In 1933 the first submarine built for the U.S. Navy at Electric Boat’s Groton shipyard was launched. What was its name?
10.In what year did EB begin hiring women to perform construction work and welding tasks that had previously been performed exclusively by men?
a.1941
b.1942
c.1943
d.1944
11.How many submarines and patrol torpedo (PT) boats did EB produce over the course of WWII?
12.Which U.S. President famously commanded a PT boat that was cut in half by a Japanese destroyer in the South Pacific in 1943?
13.Between and after the world wars, EB kept the production lines busy by diversifying. Name one non-submarine product the company produced during these times.
14.What year did Capt. Hyman Rickover set the challenge for a nuclear-powered submarine?
15.In what year did the USS Nautilus declare “underway on nuclear power”?
16.How many U.S. First Ladies (future, current and former) have sponsored U.S. Navy nuclear submarines?
17.Electric Boat has pioneered the design and production of a number of small research submarines. Name one.
18.In what year did the Navy’s first fleet ballistic-missile submarine, USS George Washington (SSBN 598), go on its first strategic deterrent patrol?
a.1959
b.1960
c.1962
19.In what year was Quonset Point’s frame and cylinder manufacturing facility completed?
a.1976
b.1979
c.1980
20.What year was USS Virginia (SSN 774), the lead ship of the Virginia class, christened?
a.2002
b.2003
c.2004
21.In what year will the first Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine go on patrol?
a.2028
b.2031
c.2033
There will be a separate story uploaded with the quiz answers.
Powering HeartStrong 50: Thank You, EB Teams—Let’s Keep the Momentum Going!
Thank you to our incredible EB Heart Walk teams, our community partners, and everyone who joined the American Heart Association (AHA) Torch Journey photoshoot. Your enthusiasm and dedication made this milestone truly special. Now let’s keep our HeartStrong 50 energy going—our goal is 50 teams and $50,000 raised for the 2026 AHA Eastern Connecticut Heart Walk on October 3 at UConn Avery...Continue reading→
Speed Cameras to be Installed in the City of Groton
The City of Groton Police Department announced that automated speed enforcement cameras will be installed at several locations throughout the city. The cameras will be installed after the required 30-day public notification period, which began on Aug. 7, 2026. Camera locations: Mitchell Street Thames Street Clarence B. Sharp Highway (Route 349) Police said the purpose...Continue reading→
MDA Apprenticeship Application Now Open
Application Window: August 1, 2026 – August 31, 2026 The MDA Apprenticeship Program is a four-year initiative designed to develop a highly skilled workforce for Electric Boat. This program provides three years of on‑the‑job training alongside qualified subject matter experts, combined with classroom instruction across various technical disciplines. Participants gain advanced skills, broaden their expertise, and...Continue reading→
Building 600 Tech Stop Relocation
On Monday, August 3, 2026, Facilities will be relocating the Tech Stop currently located in Building 600 4th Floor East to its new location in Building 130-01 Classroom 7. During this time, please utilize the alternate Tech Stop location: B708 (625 Long Hill Road) Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm The tech stop will resume...Continue reading→
A Message From Mark Rayha: Historic Contracts/Rayha Report
Today marks one of the most significant moments in Electric Boat’s history. As part of its $76.6 billion submarine contract announcement, the U.S. Navy has awarded Electric Boat ship construction contracts valued at $29.5 billion for five Columbia-class submarines and $42.1 billion for nine Virginia-class submarines, along with incentives for shipyard infrastructure. Click here to read the...Continue reading→
Electric Boat featured in latest episode of ‘Cast in Steel’
General Dynamics Electric Boat is featured in the latest episode of Cast in Steel, a web series that showcases the leaders of America’s steel industry as part of their competition to promote careers in metalworking. The Cast in Steel team visited our Quonset Point facility to highlight how EB’s shipbuilders transform flat steel into nuclear...Continue reading→
EB’s Groton Shipyard Celebrates 100 Years of Submarine Construction
The first submarine ever built in Electric Boat’s Groton shipyard slid gracefully from its ways into the Thames River 100 years ago, taking to the water with “scarcely a splash” before a crowd of 1,500, according to newspaper accounts at the time. A century after the 800-ton, 200-foot-long R2 was launched, EB shipbuilders continue to...Continue reading→
President Trump Gives Our Submarines a Shoutout at Pennsylvania Innovation and Defense Summit
During his remarks at the Pennsylvania Innovation and Defense Summit held on July 15 at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA, President Donald Trump introduced attendee Danny Deep, president of General Dynamics. In his quick words to Danny, President Trump recognized General Dynamics for building “the greatest submarines in the world.” Continue reading→
Rayha Report Ep. 23: Matt Olander Honored by UConn College of Engineering
In this episode of the Rayha Report, EB President Mark Rayha speaks with Matt Olander, senior vice president of programs and engineering, about his personal career journey and recent return to UConn’s College of Engineering as an honorary degree recipient and 2026 commencement speaker. Watch Matt’s commencement speech on the UConn College of Engineering YouTube channel.Continue reading→
Rayha Report Ep. 22: Run to Home Base 2026
In his latest Rayha Report, EB President Mark Rayha talks with Run to Home Base co-chair Tammee Sweck and runners Amy and Greyson Stephenson about why this annual fundraiser means so much to our veterans, service members, and their families. Learn how Team General Dynamics is preparing for the July 25 event at Fenway Park...Continue reading→
