Military Nuclear marine propulsion

1 military

1.1 background
1.2 submarines
1.3 aircraft carriers
1.4 destroyers , cruisers

military

by 1990 there more nuclear reactors powering ships (mostly military) there generating electric power in commercial power plants worldwide.

background

uss nautilus in new york harbor, 25 august 1958. nautilus had completed polar voyage under arctic ice. (photograph coutesy of united states navy).



the nuclear-propelled french submarine saphir returning toulon, home port, after mission héraclès.

under direction of u.s. navy captain (later admiral) hyman g. rickover, design, development , production of nuclear marine propulsion plants started in united states in 1940s. first prototype naval reactor constructed , tested @ naval reactor facility @ national reactor testing station in idaho (now called idaho national laboratory) in 1953.

submarines

the first nuclear submarine, uss nautilus (ssn-571), put sea in 1955 (ss traditional designation submarines, while ssn denoted first nuclear submarine).

the soviet union developed nuclear submarines. first types developed project 627, nato designated november class 2 water-cooled reactors, first of which, k-3 leninskiy komsomol, underway under nuclear power on july 4, 1958.

nuclear power revolutionized submarine, making true underwater vessel, rather submersible craft, stay underwater limited periods. gave submarine ability operate submerged @ high speeds, comparable of surface vessels, unlimited periods, dependent on endurance of crew. demonstrate uss triton first vessel execute submerged circumnavigation of earth (operation sandblast), doing in 1960.

nautilus, pressurized water reactor (pwr), led parallel development of other submarines unique liquid metal cooled (sodium) reactor in uss seawolf, or 2 reactors in triton, , skate-class submarines, powered single reactors, , cruiser, uss long beach, in 1961, powered 2 reactors.

by 1962 united states navy had 26 operational nuclear submarines , 30 under construction. nuclear power had revolutionized navy. united states shared technology united kingdom, while french, soviet, indian , chinese development proceeded separately.

after skate-class vessels, submarines powered series of standardized, single-reactor designs built westinghouse , general electric. rolls-royce plc built similar units royal navy submarines, developing modified version of own, pwr-2 (pressurized water reactor).

the largest nuclear submarines ever built 26,500 tonne russian typhoon class. smallest nuclear warships date 2,700 tonne french rubis-class attack submarines. navy operated unarmed nuclear submarine, nr-1 deep submergence craft, between 1969 , 2008, not combat vessel smallest nuclear powered submarine @ 400 tons.

aircraft carriers

enterprise, world s first nuclear-powered carrier (left) newest: french carrier charles de gaulle, 16 may 2001

united states , france have built nuclear aircraft carriers. sole french example charles de gaulle, commissioned in 2001.

the united states navy have broader experience. uss enterprise, in service 1962–2012, powered 8 reactor units, still aircraft carrier house more 2 nuclear reactors, each a2w reactor taking place of 1 of conventional boilers in earlier constructions.

recent vessels include nimitz , successor gerald r. ford classes.

destroyers , cruisers

the united states navy has examples of these vessels, utilising d2g , c1w reactors.