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USS Nautilus (SSN-571) Nuclear Submarine

USS Nautilus (SSN-571) Nuclear Submarine

Brand: General Dynamics Electric Boat
Category: Naval Warfare Systems
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Displacement 3,530 tons submerged
Maximum Speed 23 knots submerged
Radar Range N/A
Vertical Launch Cells (VLS) None

Full Specifications
Product Overview
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Full Specifications

1. General Information

System Name	USS Nautilus (SSN-571)
Type / Role	Nuclear Attack Submarine (Prototype)
Manufacturer	United States
Country of Origin	1954–1980
In Service	1954
Year Introduced	$55 million (1950s)
Unit Cost	105 personnel

2. Dimensions & Structure

Length	319 ft (97 m)
Beam (Width)	27 ft (8.2 m)
Draft	22 ft (6.7 m)
Displacement	3,530 tons submerged
Hull Material	HY-80 Steel
Deck Configuration	Streamlined single-hull

3. Performance & Propulsion

Propulsion Type	Nuclear Reactor
Engine Model	S2W Pressurized Water Reactor
Power Output	15,000 shp
Maximum Speed	23 knots (submerged)
Range	Unlimited (nuclear)
Endurance	Limited by crew and supplies

4. Sensors & Radar Systems

Primary Radar	N/A (submerged operations)
Radar Range	N/A
Sonar System	BQS-4 Passive Sonar
Electro-Optical / IR System	None
Electronic Warfare Suite	Basic ECM
Fire Control Radar	Mk 101 Torpedo Fire Control

5. Weapons & Armament

Main Gun	None
Vertical Launch System (VLS) Cells	None
Missiles	None
Anti-Ship Missiles	None
Anti-Submarine Torpedoes	6 × 21-inch torpedo tubes
Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)	None
Decoy Systems	Basic countermeasure ejectors

6. Aviation & Support

Helicopter Capability	None
Hangar Capacity	None
UAV Operations	None
Flight Deck Size	N/A
Replenishment at Sea	Yes (logistical)

7. Defensive & Electronic Systems

Countermeasures	Basic sonar decoys
ECM / ECCM	Early analog ECM
Missile Defense System	None
Combat Management System	Prototype analog fire control
Communication Systems	UHF/VHF radio, periscope communications

8. Operational Information

Service Branch	U.S. Navy
Primary Operator	United States
Operational History	Arctic crossing, Cold War patrols
Notable Feature	First nuclear-powered submarine; North Pole transit (1958)

Our Rating

The overall rating is based on review by our experts

Technology 8 / 10
Performance 8 / 10
Maintenance Efficiency 8 / 10
Operational Flexibility 8 / 10

PROS

First operational nuclear submarine in history
Unlimited underwater endurance
High submerged speed for its era
Proven Cold War reconnaissance capability
Pioneered nuclear naval propulsion

CONS

Limited armament and combat capability
Early reactor design required extensive maintenance
Cramped crew quarters and dated habitability
No vertical launch system (VLS)
Obsolete compared to modern nuclear submarines

USS Nautilus (SSN-571) — World’s First Nuclear Submarine

The USS Nautilus (SSN-571) stands as one of the most groundbreaking naval vessels in U.S. history. Commissioned in 1954 and built by Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, it was the world’s first operational nuclear-powered submarine, marking the beginning of a new era in undersea warfare. Designed to demonstrate the strategic advantages of nuclear propulsion, Nautilus transformed naval operations by extending underwater endurance and global reach.

Revolutionary Design and Capabilities

Powered by a S2W nuclear reactor, the USS Nautilus could remain submerged for weeks, unlike conventional diesel-electric submarines that required frequent surfacing. With a maximum submerged speed exceeding 20 knots and a range limited only by crew endurance and onboard supplies, the vessel showcased the limitless potential of atomic energy at sea.

Built primarily for experimental and strategic missions, Nautilus featured advanced sonar and navigation systems for its time. Its historic 1958 under-ice voyage to the North Pole—codenamed Operation Sunshine—demonstrated the feasibility of long-range Arctic operations, a vital milestone during the Cold War.

The submarine served until 1980, after which it was preserved as a museum ship in Groton, Connecticut, symbolizing a technological leap that shaped modern U.S. Navy submarine design.

USS Nautilus (SSN-571) Price in United States

As a historical and decommissioned asset, the USS Nautilus no longer carries a production price. When built in the 1950s, its estimated cost was $55 million USD (equivalent to several hundred million in today’s value). It now serves as a public exhibit, embodying the dawn of the nuclear submarine age.

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