Drill Alert: Simulated Gunfire Taking Place at Naval Submarine Base New London

Post from Waterford Police Department:

Naval Submarine Base New London will be conducting security force exercises May 4 through May 8, 2015, and May 11 through May 15, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. along the base waterfront on the Thames River.

The training will include live fire, also known as blanks, with multiple boats transiting in the vicinity North of Thames River Bridge to Groton Sub Base. All mariners shall use extreme caution and are urged to transit at safe speed, and keep clear of Naval Security Force Exercise Boats.

More Information From Naval Submarine Base New London:

During the next two weeks, Naval Security Force drills along the waterfront of Naval Submarine Base New London (SUBASE) will include live automatic weapons firing with blanks.

Not in response to any specific threat, the drills are part of a regularly-scheduled exercise taking place across the Navy from May 4-15 titled “Citadel Protect.”

Training opportunities at SUBASE will enhance the readiness of base Naval Security Forces to respond to threats to the base and its homeported submarines.

“Similar to Citadel Protect exercise at SUBASE last year, we’ll be conducting automatic weapons firing with blanks,” said Dave Cruz, SUBASE training Officer. “The blank fire adds a very realistic element and greatly enhances the scenarios that we’ve developed simulating attacks on our waterfront.”

Such drills will involve SUBASE Security boats, simulated aggressor boats, submarines, and waterfront facilities, and the coordination has been extensive according to Cruz.

“Our planning has been all-encompassing,” said Cruz. “We’ve mapped everything out, and we’ve involved the Coast Guard and local law enforcement. We’re also involving a large team of training and safety observers. They’ve been thoroughly included in every detail of the planning, and they’ll continue to be briefed as well as enforce safety parameters as we conduct the exercise scenarios.”

Various communication tools will be used to keep SUBASE personnel informed about the exercise and drills, and Cruz is enlisting local officials and the media to help make the community “situationally aware.”

“We’re communicating with local officials, emergency managers, and police departments, as well as the media, in our effort to ensure neighbors in the community know about the drill, especially the automatic weapons firing with blanks,” said Cruz. “The last thing we want to do is cause alarm or undue concern in the community from the firing and noise helping our security forces get the most out of training.”

Cruz emphasizes that the base is only conducting the drills with the live firing during the work day; “so if our neighbors or base personnel hear gunfire or something of concern before 8 a.m. or after 4 p.m., then they should report it immediately for the proper authorities to investigate.”