What is the difference between a Naval base and a Navy Yard?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 22:14:37 -0500

I tried the interwebs but I didn't get anything concrete so I figured I'd ask our more aquatic brethren.

Response by SCPO Charles Thomas "Tom" Canterbury made Jan 1 at 2016 10:16 PM

SCPO Charles Thomas "Tom" Canterbury — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 22:16:46 -0500

A Navy Base is like any other base. Navy Yards are where extensive ship maintenance takes place, like a dry dock availability.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 1 at 2016 11:28 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 23:28:54 -0500

OK, here's the real skinny. "Yards" or "Shipyards" are a completely separate entity from "bases" in both ownership and financing. Whereas bases are funded through the Navy budgeting process, yards are a business entity that gets paid to overhaul and maintain ships under the Navy Working Capital Fund which is a subset of the Defense Business Operating Fund. So the Navy must budget for and get appropriations to buy the services from the Shipyards. Shipyards belong to the Naval Sea Systems Command. Bases typically belong to the Navy Installations Command.

Another piece of trivia. The Trident SSBNs do not belong to the Navy. They belong to the Strategic Systems Programs Office. SSPO pays the Navy to man and operate the SSBNs as well as pays the Shipyards to do maintenance on them. So in reality the Navy doesn't budget for SSBNs, SSPO figures it out. It is a separate appropriation. The Navy and Air Force do not budget for strategic weapons, Department of Energy does. They never belong to the services but rather the services have "custody" of them and have to give them back to DoE.

Response by SFC Robert Striblen made Jan 1 at 2016 11:49 PM

SFC Robert Striblen — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 23:49:36 -0500

Bases are permanent duty stations for ships and subs, Yards are temporary assignments for ships and subs.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jan 2 at 2016 9:10 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 09:10:09 -0500

A "Navy Yard" such as Navy Yard Washington DC is, as others have already states, a ship yard where ships, boats, and submarines go for dry docking/extensive maintenance overhauls. But in the case of Washington Navy Yard, it is no longer a ship yard. This particular "Yard" is the administrative home of the US Navy. Based there are the Chief Of Naval Operations (CNO) and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON).

Response by SN Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2016 8:07 PM

SN Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 20:07:53 -0500

Seaman Babb says " When at a Navy Base, one does not work too hard, when on a Navy Yard may God and Captain be merciful."