U.S. Navy Submarines, and those who have served aboard them during the past 100 years, will be honored March 27 when five new commemorative postage stamps are issued by the U.S. Postal Service in Groton, CT. Groton is the home of the Naval Submarine Base New London; the historic ship USS Nautilus; and the Submarine Force Library and Museum.

The five U.S. Navy Submarines stamp designs depict different periods in submarine technology and will be available in the first U.S. commemorative prestige booklet, containing text and photographs in addition to the stamps. The 33-cent design will also be available in a separate pane of 20 stamps.

The 60-cent stamp design in the booklet features the USS Holland. Purchased in 1900, it was the first submarine acquired by the U.S. Navy. The 22-cent stamp design depicts an S-class submarine showing changes in technology and size that occurred after the USS Holland. The Gato class submarine appearing on the $3.20 stamp represents the contributions that submarines made to American naval superiority in the Pacific during World War II.

Los Angeles class fast attack submarines, which will be highlighted on the 33-cent stamp design in the booklet and separately in the 20-stamp pane, are nuclear powered. The 55-cent stamp depicts the Ohio class fleet ballistic missile submarine. At 560 feet long with 24 Trident ballistic missiles, it represents an ever present deterrent to possible military aggression.

The U.S. Navy Submarines stamps were illustrated by Jim Griffiths of Glenview, Ill. Carl Herrman of Carlsbad, Calif., was art director.