Seventy years ago, work was launched in the United States to create the first nuclear-powered submarine Nautilus (SSN 571). This became one of the revolutionary events in the world shipbuilding.
The first research work on the creation of a shipborne nuclear reactor (NR) of the US Navy dates back to 1939. However, the events of the Second World War and the concentration of efforts of American specialists, as well as world-famous emigrant scientists from Europe A. Einstein, N. Bohr, E. Fermi, L. Szilard and others on the implementation of the American atomic bomb program (Manhattan project) postponed the introduction of atomic energy on submarines by more than 15 years. However, even before the end of the war in the United States, a committee was created to develop proposals for the use of atomic energy in the post-war period. Among them was the creation of a shipborne nuclear power plant (NPP). In pursuance of this recommendation, by the end of the war, a group of naval officers and engineers was recruited at the US Navy's Naval Research Center, which in 1946 took part in the construction of a nuclear reactor at the Oak Ridge nuclear center.
The group included Electrical Engineer Commander Hymen Rikover (1900-1986), a man who played an exceptional role in the creation of the world's first nuclear submarine Nautilus, as well as experimental nuclear submarines Tullibee, Norwhal, Glenard P. Lipscomb and serial combat nuclear submarines of the Skipjack types. Thresher / Permit, Sturgeon and the first Los Angeles sub-series. No wonder Rickover is called the "godfather" of the US nuclear submarine fleet.
However, at the end of 1947, the Naval Shipbuilding Directorate did not support the recommendations of the group to accelerate the program for creating a nuclear reactor with dimensions that would allow it to be placed in the submarine's hull, and disbanded it. Meanwhile, work on nuclear missile systems for submarines continued and soon received support from the leadership of the US Navy. The Department of Nuclear Energy was created under the Naval Shipbuilding Directorate, later transformed into the Naval Reactor Development Sector of the Atomic Energy Commission (now the US Department of Energy).
By the end of 1949, the development of the project for the first shipborne nuclear power plant was completed. Power engineers proposed to create a ground-based prototype of the nuclear power plant, and after testing it, ensure the placement of the installation on a submarine. From the very beginning, the project manager H. Rikover demanded that the prototype of the reactor be placed inside a steel cylinder with a diameter of about 9 m - similar to the expected diameter of the strong hull of the future submarine.
In July 1951, Congress decided to build the world's first nuclear submarine. The Ministry of the Navy in December 1951 gave the new ship the name Nautilus.
Creation of a ground prototype. In January 1950, it was decided to build a ground-based prototype for the STR Mark I nuclear power plant - a thermal neutron reactor. Construction took place near the town of Arco, in the state of Idaho, in a desert area and far from big cities.
In February 1950, H. Rikover asked the leading US Navy shipyard Portsmouth Naval Shipyard regarding the possibility of developing a project and manufacturing a nuclear reactor hull for the STR Mark I prototype. At the same time, it was stipulated that all design work was carried out under the leadership of H. Rikover. When the shipyard management refused to accept such a condition, he offered the job to Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. At the end of 1952, the reactor vessel was manufactured and delivered to Arco. On March 30, 1953, the STR Mark I prototype reached criticality level, and on June 25 of the same year, the installation was brought up to rated power.
Particular attention was paid to the security system. It was so sensitive that the reactor could be shut down due to the heavy footfall of a sailor on the deck. Gradually, the number of safety parameters was reduced, and their permissible deviations from the norm were “roughened up”.
During the tests of the reactor after 24 hours of continuous operation at rated power, the engineers considered that the obtained data was sufficient and suggested that the tests be completed. However, Rickover ordered work to continue to simulate the passage of a nuclear submarine underwater through the Atlantic: from Nova Scotia (a province in southeastern Canada) to the port of Fasnet in southwestern Ireland. The regime simulated a transatlantic crossing of nearly 2,000 miles at an average speed of over 20 knots, without stopping or surfacing.
During the execution of this regime, several rather serious emergencies took place. So, after 60 hours, autonomous turbine generators (ATG) actually fell into disrepair. The graphite dust formed during normal operational wear of their brushes settled on the windings and led to a decrease in the insulation resistance. Several meters of the cables of the NR control system were damaged, as a result of which control over the parameters of the core was lost. One of the two circulation pumps of the primary circuit (TsNPK) began to create an increased noise level at high frequencies. 65 hours after the start of the regime, the situation became even more tense. Several tubes of the main condenser have leaked. The pressure in the condenser began to rise.
Meanwhile, the experiment was completed. Overall, the STR Mark I provided a satisfactory 96 hour transition. During this time, the power was reduced twice to the level of 50% and once to 30%, but the installation was never taken out of action. Subsequent revision and defect detection showed that all detected defects and damages can be easily eliminated.
Construction of the nuclear submarine Nautilus. The contract of the Navy with the Electric Boat shipyard was signed on August 20, 1951. The laying of the Nautilus submarine took place on June 14, 1952. During the construction process, strict control over the weight load of the submarine was carried out. The cost of the submarine in 1951 prices was $ 37 million.
The boat was launched on January 21, 1954. Mrs. Eisenhower, the wife of the President of the United States, became the "Godmother" who broke a bottle of champagne on her stem. On November 30, 1954, the Nautilus submarine became part of the US Navy. The first commanding officer of the ship was Commander Eugene Wilkinson.
Until January 17, 1955, the submarine continued to be at the outfitting wall of the Electric Boat shipyard. The ship was being fine-tuned to the design parameters. The most difficult thing was to ensure underwater autonomy, which was explained by the unsatisfactory operation of the air regeneration and air conditioning system.
In May 1955, a boat sailed from New London, Connecticut to Puerto Rico, 1,300 miles in 84 hours. At the beginning of 1957, the permissible duration of stay under water was increased to 16 days (about 385 hours). And only at the end of 1958 the duration of continuous stay under water reached the design value - 31 days.
The main characteristics of the Nautilus nuclear submarine: normal / underwater displacement - 2980/3520 tons; length - 97.5 m, width - 8.5 m, height - 6, 7 m, full surface / underwater speed - 20/23 knots; cruising range - 40,000 miles (with nuclear reactor installed during the second overhaul). Test diving depth - 213.4 m. The crew consisted of 101 people, including 12 officers.
The boat had six bow torpedo tubes of the Mk 50 type of 533 mm caliber for firing torpedoes Mk 14 Mod 6, Mk 16 Mod 6, Mk 16 Mod 8, Mk 37 Mod 1b and Mod 3. Fire control system - Mk 101 Mod 6. Ammunition included 24 torpedoes (6 - in torpedo tubes and 18 - on racks). The nuclear submarine had an active / passive sonar station (GAS) of the AN / SQS-4 type with a cylindrical antenna in the bow. The detection range in the echo direction finding mode is 5 miles, the operating frequency is 14 kHz.
The robust hull of the Nautilus submarine is made of HTS steel and divided by watertight bulkheads into six compartments. The bow end had pivot lines, the stern end had a conical shape with circular frames. For the first time on this boat, it was possible to provide the entire crew with regular berths, abandoning the principle of a "warm berth", when a sailor who had changed from watch occupied any free berth, from which the watchman had recently got up. The foremen and sailors were accommodated in cockpits with three-tiered bunks, officers - in cabins, the ship's commander had a separate cabin. The living quarters were located in 2, 3 and 6 compartments.
The Westinghouse NPP included: one pressurized water reactor of the S2W type with a thermal power of 50 MW with two steam generators (SG) and three primary circulation pumps for each SG, two main turbo-gear units with high and low pressure turbines with a total effective capacity of 15,000 liters. sec., two main condensers, two propeller shafts with five-blade propellers. Biological protection of nuclear reactors ensured a decrease in penetrating radiation to a level below the natural background - about 3 rem in 30 years.
Operation of the nuclear submarine Nautilus. At 11 o'clock on January 17, 1955, Nautilus gave up the mooring lines at the Electric Boat dock and for the first time developed a course under the nuclear power plant. Captain Eugene Wilkinson sent a historic report: "Underway on nuclear power".
The finishing of the nuclear submarine continued during the tests. At the beginning of February 1957, the boat covered 60,000 miles under water. During 1957-1959. Nautilus performed various tasks, including making four attempts to reach the North Pole. This was done only on August 3, 1958, when the boat was commanded by William Anderson. Submarine at 23 o'clock. 15 minutes. passed through the point of the North Pole at a depth of about 120 m under pack ice 7.6 m thick.
From May 28, 1959 to August 15, 1960, the nuclear submarine underwent the first overhaul and refueling of the AZ YR at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. From late October to mid-December 1960, Nautilus was in the Mediterranean with the US 6th Fleet. After that, the boat participated in a number of NATO exercises in the Atlantic. In the fall of 1962, the submarine took part in the naval blockade of Cuba.
From January 17, 1964 to May 15, 1966, the second overhaul and recharging of the AZ YR took place. By the spring of 1966, the submarine had passed 300,000 miles under water. Over the next twelve years, she participated in a number of Navy research programs.
It is noted that the unsuccessful design of the hull and superstructure of the nuclear submarine led to intense vibration. The efficient operation of the GAS and the secrecy of the nuclear submarine were ensured at speeds of only less than 4 knots. This lesson of Nautilus was taken into account in the development of subsequent projects of nuclear submarines, which received a more streamlined hull shape.
Nautilus at the wall of the Museum of the submarine forces
In the spring of 1979, Nautilus sailed from Groton on his final underwater voyage to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, where the ship was decommissioned. The nuclear submarine was officially excluded from the List of Warships on March 3, 1980.
Museum exhibit. In October 1979, the Navy decided to convert the Nautilus into a museum piece. In May 1982, the submarine was declared a National Historic Landmark.
The conversion into a museum piece was carried out at the Mare Island shipyard. The core of the nuclear reactor was unloaded. YAR is saved and mothballed. For the entrance and exit of visitors, two openings were cut in the sturdy hull in the right (front) side. 1, 2 and 6 compartments are available for visitors.
In 1985, Nautilus was towed to Groton and placed in the waters of the Museum of Submarine Forces. The nuclear submarine was opened for visitors on April 11, 1986, on the day of the 86th anniversary of the establishment of the US Navy's submarine forces. In 2002, the boat underwent a five-month repair with Electric Boat at a cost of $ 4.7 million.
There are about 250,000 visitors aboard the Nautilus every year. Unfortunately, the fate of the first domestic nuclear submarine K-3 "Leninsky Komsomol" (about it see the magazine "National Defense", No. 12, 2008), which they also wanted to convert into a museum, is still unclear.
