Rare Vintage FCTCLANT Dam Neck Navy Plaque R Pette Co Fleet Combat Training 9” For Sale

An exceptionally uncommon piece of U.S. Navy institutional history from the former Fleet Combat Training Center, Atlantic (FCTCLANT) at Dam Neck, Virginia.This is not a modern reproduction or generic Navy décor piece. It is a substantial vintage shield plaque manufactured by R. Pette Company of Providence, Rhode Island, a maker known from surviving period U.S. Navy presentation and command plaques.The plaque measures approximately 9” tall x 7” wide and combines a beautifully finished dark wood shield with a large, heavy-looking dimensional antiqued metal command emblem.The emblem reads:FLEET COMBAT TRAINING CENTER ATLANTIC
PROFESSIONALISM
DAM NECKIts elaborate relief depicts multiple elements of naval warfare—including aircraft, surface vessels and submarines—against a textured geographic background, making this an especially impressive piece when viewed in person.A PIECE FROM A FORMER NAVY COMMANDThe significance of the plaque goes beyond its appearance.Official 1995 Department of Defense documentation identifies the activity by its formal name, Fleet Combat Training Center, Atlantic, with FCTCLANT Dam Neck among its official acronyms and Dam Neck as its commonly accepted short title. Its stated purpose included surface warfare, air warfare and command-and-control training. The command was an important Navy training institution for decades. A U.S. Naval Institute account from an officer who served there in 1985–86 describes training combat-systems personnel from USS Stark at Fleet Combat Training Center Atlantic, Dam Neck. Navy historical records also document Fleet Combat Training Center Atlantic at Dam Neck in 1980, while a surviving period photograph documents its Polaris ballistic-missile training facilities circa 1964. The old command identity represented on this plaque is now historical: the Dam Neck training facility was reorganized and renamed Training Support Center Hampton Roads in 2004. R. PETTE COMPANY — PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLANDThe reverse retains its original period maker marking:R. PETTE COMPANY
11 CHAFFEE AVENUE
PROVIDENCE, R.I. 02909This is an important part of the piece.R. Pette is associated with surviving vintage U.S. military and Navy plaques, including documented presentation pieces. The combination of an identified period maker, obsolete Navy command designation and highly specific command emblem distinguishes this from the numerous modern reproduction military plaques on the market.SCARCITYIdentical examples appear to be extremely difficult to locate.Extensive searching has not turned up another readily available example of this exact R. Pette Company Fleet Combat Training Center Atlantic / Dam Neck plaque.No claim is being made that it is one-of-a-kind, a numbered limited edition, or that a particular individual received this example—there is no personalization or documentation accompanying it.However, the absence of readily located matching examples, the obsolete command designation, period R. Pette maker marking and unusually elaborate command-specific emblem make this a particularly interesting survivor.Rather than appearing to have been created as ordinary modern souvenir merchandise, its construction and maker are consistent with the style of institutional, command and presentation plaques R. Pette produced for military customers.DETAILS* Vintage U.S. Navy plaque
* Fleet Combat Training Center, Atlantic
* FCTCLANT / Dam Neck, Virginia
* Large raised “PROFESSIONALISM” emblem
* Aircraft, surface-ship and submarine imagery
* Substantial dimensional antiqued metal medallion
* Dark finished wood shield
* Distinctive peaked shield profile
* Beveled perimeter
* Approximately 9” x 7”
* Original wall-hanging keyhole
* Maker stamped R. Pette Company
* 11 Chaffee Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island 02909
* No modern reproduction markings
* No personalization or recipient nameThis would make a particularly compelling acquisition for a U.S. Navy veteran, former FCTCLANT/Dam Neck service member, Cold War naval collector, military museum or historical collection, naval warfare collector, or collector specializing in obsolete U.S. military commands and installations.The photographs are an important part of the description and show the exact plaque being offered.You will receive the exact vintage R. Pette Company FCTCLANT Dam Neck plaque pictured.