Submarines in Pittsburgh? Yep
- Jon Litle
- Apr 11, 2023
- 1 min read
While Pittsburgh is located hundreds of miles from the ocean, submarines have played an important role in the city's history. During World War II, the United States Navy operated a submarine training facility on the Ohio River, just outside of Pittsburgh.

The facility, known as the Pittsburgh Naval Reserve Training Station, was established in 1942 and served as a training center for submarine crews. The Ohio River was chosen as the site for the training facility because its depth and width made it an ideal location for simulating the conditions that submariners would encounter at sea.
During the war, hundreds of sailors received their submarine training at the Pittsburgh facility, which included instruction on everything from navigation and weapons systems to underwater escape procedures. The training center was a critical part of the war effort, as the United States Navy relied heavily on its submarine fleet to disrupt Japanese shipping lanes and attack enemy warships.
Today, the Pittsburgh Naval Reserve Training Station is no longer in operation, but its legacy lives on as an important part of Pittsburgh's military history. The facility was officially decommissioned in 1958, and the land was eventually turned over to the city of Pittsburgh. Today, the site is home to several businesses and residential developments, but it is still recognized as an important part of the city's history.


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