KITTERY, Maine -- The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was placed on the list of recommended military base closures on Friday, and state and local leaders vowed to fight to save it.

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The announcement from the Base Realignment and Closure Commision ends months of anxious anticipation and speculation over which bases the nation's military leaders had deemed obsolete.

"Remember, BRAC is viewing into the next 20 years, and what we're trying to do is shape our military for the 21st century," said Adm. Bob Willard, vice chief of U.S. Naval Operations.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said that the base closures and personnel shifts will save the Department of Defense $49 billion.

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is the country's oldest shipyard, opening in June 1800. Workers were encouraged recently when the yard was awarded a new submarine contract and when it received a special citation for its work earlier this week.

BASE CLOSURES Web Site: Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission Fact Sheet: More On Base Closings Article: Rumsfeld Announces Base Closures

"Personally, I have to tell you the wind was taken out of my sail when I heard we were on the list," said Ann Grinnell, Kittery Board of Selectman chairwoman.

Members of the New Hampshire and Maine congressional delegations said that they were surprised that the shipyard was on the list.

"Like everybody, I'm very disappointed," Sen. Judd Gregg said. "The shipyard's been doing a great job. We think it's a critical element of the defense infrastructure."

Gregg said that the congressional delegation was preparing a defense of the shipyard, arguing that there are several reasons why it should remain open, including that it was one of the few places where nuclear submarines can be repaired.

"This is a nuclear facility," Gregg said. "You simply can't site one of these facilities again. We only have four of them, and if you close one of them, you'll never get it back."

The list released on Friday is the first step in the closure process. The Pentagon is recommending that the bases be closed, and those recommendations must then be approved or changed by a federal base closing commission by Sept. 8. The list then must go by Congress and President George W. Bush.

Officials said that because of a current submarine contract at the shipyard, the earliest it could close would be 2011. The shipyard employs 4,800 workers, and the state says it creates a $500 million impact on the economy each year.

The Pentagon list includes 180 military installations it recommends closing, including 33 major bases. The report also recommends shifting some personnel to other bases. Brunswick Naval Air Station in Maine would lose about half of its workforce.

In Massachusetts, Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod would be closed. But Hanscom Air Force Base northwest of Boston would gain more than 1,000 jobs.

The Vermont Air National Guard base at Burlington International Airport would be expanded, gaining 56 new positions and three new F-16s.

Local Officials Promise Fight

Portsmouth Mayor Evelyn Sirrell called the news of the closure recommendation devastating, but vowed that Portsmouth will spare no effort as part of an intensified campaign to reverse the decision.

"I will be meeting with our city council to discuss how we can support a renewed and intensified Save Our Shipyard campaign," Sirrell said. "This is the third time the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has been on the list for recommended closure, and each time before, we have successfully gotten it removed. We won't give up until we have succeeded once again."

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch said that he will do everything possible to keep the shipyard open. Earlier this week, he signed a bill that provided $40,000 immediately to lobbying efforts and another $60,000 if the yard was on the list.

"I want to start by saying very clearly: This is not over," Lynch said. "This is just the beginning of our fight to keep the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard open."

The Seacoast Shipyard Association was formed to fight the potential closure of the shipyard. Chairman Neil Rolde criticized the decision to include the base.

"With all due respect, we believe the secretary has made a grave misjudgment, indeed, a colossal error," he said.

From now until August, the nine-member base closing commission will visit each site on the list and hold public hearings.