Norfolk Steam Decentralization
Naval Station Norfolk is the world’s largest naval station. This United States Navy base is located in Norfolk, Virginia, and is the base for 75 ships and 134 aircraft, utilizing 14 piers and 11 aircraft hangars. Naval Station Norfolk supports naval forces in the US Fleet Forces Command, which consists of ships and aircraft operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and the Indian Ocean.
Development of the base began during World War I but did not become a center for US naval operations until World War II. During WWII, the government purchased more land and expanded the capacity of the base, allowing it to become a vital element in the efforts to end the war. After the Cold War, the naval base merged with the nearby naval air station to form Naval Station Norfolk in 1999.