Little Creek is home to the east coast Gator Navy. The Navies main amphibious base is located here along with a few other special commands. It is the largest base of its kind in the world. It is homeport to 27 ships and 15, 000 sailors. There are also 78 resident and/or supported activities affiliated with the base. These include Naval schools for various rates, pre-commissioning schools for new ships crew training, and SEAL teams. The base is also home to the Navies LCAC fleet on the east coast.

The base was founded in July, 1942 and was made permeate after World War II in 1946. Since then the base has been one of a series in the Norfolk area that has made this location the primary naval focal point on the US East coast, much like San Diego has become on the west coast.

SEAL teams, 2, 4, 8, and 10 call the base home. They train in and around the base on a daily basis. Sometimes they will call ships at the Norfolk base and tell them they will be blow up between this and that time. They did this twice to us and did it both times. Each time there was a yellow post it note with the word BOOM written on it. It was rumored they even did this to both a nuke carrier and sub. The SEAL teams also attack their own base almost daily and take part in live fire exercises as well. One school I attended was across the road from a SEAL training ground. There was a 10’ high sand berm with a fence on top of that. All along the fence were signs warning of “Live Fire.”

The Navy also has a Music school on the base to train musicians for the USN, USMC, and Army. I guess the Air Force is too busy flying to play music.(Sorry Air Force Guys it was a Joke!!!)

Schools on the base provide training for just about every rate. We attended engineering schools when we went. Operations guys were always going there for training as were our supply people. A friend I had in A school was attending pre-comm school for the USS Barry, DDG52, know as PCU 52 at the time.

Take the time to visit if you head to Nationals, you will enjoy the tour. Ships stationed at Little Creek include, LSD, PC, and ARS.