American Defenders of Land, Sea & Sky
A New Era at Home and Abroad After World War II (1945-1958)
We propelled a submarine on atomic energy.
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American Defenders of Land, Sea & Sky A New Era at Home and Abroad After World War II (1945-1958) |
We propelled a submarine on atomic energy. |
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USS Nautilus In 1946, submarine engines had to draw oxygen from the air in order to run. When a submarine surfaced, an enemy could spot it by using sonar, radar, or blimps. But after 16 years of research under Admiral Hymen Rickover, a new type of submarine was finally launched in New London, Connecticut, on January 17, 1955. The USS Nautilus ran on atomic energy, so she only needed oxygen for the crew to breathe! She could dive deep, then stay there for long periods of time. Her "stats" are impressive! The Nautilus covered 62,562 miles on her reactor's first core; 91,324 miles on her second; and 150,000 miles on her third. She was de-commissioned from active use in 1980, so you can board her if you visit Groton, Connecticut. |
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