Danville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
USS Buffalo (SSN-715)
Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, June 4, 2026
1. USS Buffalo (SSN-715) Marker
Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine
Commissioned: November 5, 1983
Decommissioned: January 30, 2019
Nickname: Silent Thunder
The sail is the tower-like structure that rises from a submarine's hull and is one of the most recognizable features of a submarine, housing periscopes, radar, and communications masts. The sail served as USS Buffalo's eyes and communication ears when at periscope depth. When surfaced, its bridge served as the observation platform for the officer of the deck to navigate the ship on the surface. Submerged, it acted as a vertical stabilizer and depth control at periscope-depth with its large fairwater planes, helping maintain control during operations in defense of our nation.
USS Buffalo served for 35 years, conducting operations primarily in the Pacific as part of America's silent service, the dedicated submariners who execute their missions unseen beneath the waves.
This display honors the sailors who served aboard Buffalo and the skilled tradespeople who constructed this nuclear-powered vessel. As students in the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing program, you represent the next generation of craftsmen called to build and sustain America's submarine fleet. The legacy of Silent Thunder now
this page online
Erected 2026 by the Regional Industrial Facilities Authority (RIFA) of the Dan River Region.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is November 5, 1983.
Location. 36° 34.681′ N, 79° 21.251′ W. Marker is in Danville, Virginia. It can be reached from Slayton Avenue 0.4 miles east of Riverpoint Drive, on the left when traveling east. The Marker is located in front of the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Maritime Training Center on the campus of the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 231 Slayton Avenue, Danville VA 24540, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southside Virginia and specifically in Central Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Archer T. Gammon (approx. Ύ mile away); Dix's Ferry (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Vietnam War (approx. one mile away); Battle of the Bulge (approx. one mile away); The Korean War (approx. one mile away); Staff Sergeant Archer T. Gammon (approx. one mile away); Defending Freedom (approx. one mile away); World War II (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Danville.
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, June 4, 2026
2. USS Buffalo (SSN-715) Marker
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, June 4, 2026
3. USS Buffalo (SSN-715) Marker
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, June 4, 2026
4. Sail of the USS Buffalo (SSN-715)
Next to the Marker.
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, June 4, 2026
5. Sail of the USS Buffalo (SSN-715)
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, June 4, 2026
6. Sail of the USS Buffalo (SSN-715)
The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Maritime Training Center can be seen in the background.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. This page has been viewed 25 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 4, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
