Groton - The Department of the Navy has granted tentative approval to Groton to receive the sail, upper rudder and other parts of its namesake nuclear attack submarine, which was decommissioned in 1997.

Local officials sent a letter to Naval Sea Systems Command, which manages disposal of nuclear-powered ships and submarines and donates submarine artifacts, seeking transfer of USS Groton parts to the town.

"After careful consideration of your request, this letter provides tentative approval to transfer the ex-GROTON sail, fairwater planes, upper rudder, anchor and cleats for your joint project as requested," Christopher A. Knoble wrote on Oct. 28 to the city and town mayors on behalf of the Navy.

Final approval would be granted after Groton has a site for the artifacts, plan for the memorial and timeline for the project.

The "sail" of a submarine is the tower-like portion that protrudes from the hull at the center of the ship. It may include periscopes, antennas or "planes," similar to fins, used to steer the ship underwater. The upper rudder is at the rear of the ship.

It would cost $42,750 to ship the artifacts from Bremerton, Wash., to Groton, Town Councilor Rich Moravsik said Monday during a meeting of the joint committee working on the logistics, design and fundraising for the project. The estimate doesn't include unloading parts, so the total could run closer to $50,000 or $60,000, he said.

The group should seek support of shipyard workers, he said.

"This is one of the few memorials dedicated to the shipyard workers, the guys that built it, designed it and sailed it," Moravsik said.

City Mayor Marian Galbraith, spokesperson for the group, said the group would need an organized fundraising campaign, and she had spoken to a consultant about it. Many organizations can provide "bridge funding," or money based on pledged donations, she said.

Cost would also depend on the size of the memorial and whether the site for the project is municipally-owned. The group is looking at 10 potential sites, including the former Groton Heights School property.

Lt. Com. Benjamin Amdur, director of the Submarine Force Museum, said the most successful memorials are used by the public. He cited the museum at Bangor Submarine Base in Silverdale, Wash., which displays the sail of the USS Woodrow Wilson SSBN-624, and provides a space for military and other events.

The design could also mark the outline of the ship, so visitors get a sense of its size.

The USS Groton was the third submarine named for Groton; it launched in October 1976 and commissioned - put into service with a crew - in July 1978.

d.straszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim

UBox

Ten potential sites for the USS Groton sail, and who owns the property.

1. Called the "Nautilus overlook," a long, narrow strip of property on Military Highway, within walking distance of the Submarine Force Museum. (Town-owned).

2. Dolphin Gardens on Jackson Drive, between Navy housing off Route 12, and across from the fire house. (Owned by U.S. Navy).

3. Parcel at Thames Street and Fairview Avenue, north of the U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII National Memorial East. (Privately-owned).

4. Parcel on Thames Street next to the Water Pollution Control Facility, directly west of Fort Griswold. (Municipally-owned).

5. Called the "Costa property" the site on Thames Street, next to Garbo Lobster Co., Inc. (Privately-owned).

6. Parcel at Thames and Allen streets, between Garbo Lobster Co. Inc. and Electric Boat. (Privately-owned).

7. The small corner lot at North and Bridge streets, across from Galaxy Roller Rink. (State-owned)

8. Groton Heights School; front lawn between the Bill Memorial Library and the school. (Town-owned).

9. The narrow strip along Route 117 from Groton Public Library to the senior center. (State-owned).

10. The future grass island at the newly-built interchange of Crystal Lake Road and Route 12. (Ownership unclear).