A little Submarine history to spice up Valentine’s Day14 February 1912 – The 1st US submarine specifically ordered by and built for the US Navy, the USS E-1, with diesel engines was commissioned at Groton, Ct. USS E-1 (SS-24). It was an E-class submarine of originally named Skipjack, the boat was launched on 27 May 1911 at the Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts; sponsored by Mrs. D. R. Battles; Skipjack renamed E-1 on 17 November 1911, Lieutenant Chester W. Nimitz in command. Nimitz later designed the ‘Dolphins’ of the submarine service which far out-shown the gold football helmet an Army contemporary proposed for the tank corps.