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USS Nautilus (SSN-571) Nuclear Submarine

USS Nautilus (SSN-571) Nuclear Submarine

Manufacturer: General Dynamics Electric Boat
Category: Submarines
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Power Early-generation S2W nuclear reactor
Stealth Basic Cold War-era acoustic reduction
Weapons Torpedo tubes for standard Cold War torpedoes
Sensors Early passive/active sonar and navigation suite

Full Specifications

1. General Information

Name / Class	USS Nautilus (SSN-571) / Nautilus-class
Country of Origin	United States
Type	Nuclear-powered attack submarine
Manufacturer	General Dynamics Electric Boat
Operators	U.S. Navy
In Service	1954
Status	Museum ship (Decommissioned 1980)

2. Dimensions & Design

Length	318 ft (97 m)
Beam (Width)	28 ft (8.5 m)
Draught / Draft	26 ft (7.9 m)
Displacement (Surfaced)	~3,180 tons
Displacement (Submerged)	~3,500 tons
Hull Material	Steel
Crew	~105

3. Propulsion & Performance

Power Source	Nuclear
Engine / Reactor Type	S2W pressurized water reactor
Propulsion System	Nuclear turbine → single shaft
Speed (Surfaced)	~20 knots
Speed (Submerged)	~23 knots+
Range	Virtually unlimited (reactor-dependent)
Endurance	Weeks submerged
Operational Depth	~700 ft (approx.)
Test Depth	~700 ft
Maximum Depth	~700+ ft (estimated)

4. Armament

Torpedo Tubes	6 × 21-inch
Torpedoes / Missiles	Conventional Cold War torpedoes
Cruise / Ballistic Missiles	None
Mines	Limited capability
Decoys / Countermeasures	Basic acoustic decoys

5. Sensors & Electronics

Sonar System	BQR-series early sonar
Radar	Basic navigation radar
Combat Management System	Early analog systems
Electronic Warfare System	Limited Cold War-era suite
Communication Systems	Standard U.S. Navy comms
Navigation Systems	Gyro and inertial systems

6. Stealth & Defense

Anechoic Coating	No
Noise Reduction Features	Early machinery isolation
Magnetic Signature Reduction	Minimal
Acoustic Signature Level	High by modern standards

7. Payload & Capacity

Weapons Payload	Torpedoes only
Special Forces Accommodation	No
UUV / Drone Capability	None

8. Notable Technologies

Reactor / AIP Type	S2W nuclear PWR
Automation Level	Low (manual systems
Special Features	First nuclear-powered submarine

9. Operational History

Major Deployments	Operation Sunshine, Arctic transit
Combat / Exercises	Cold War fleet operations
Upgrades	Reactor refits, sonar improvements

10. Cost & Production

Unit Cost	~$55 million (1950s)
Number Built	1
Production Period	1952–1954

11. Media & Credits

Image / Video Source	U.S. Navy public domain
Official Website	Naval History & Heritage Command
Reference Credit	U.S. Navy archives

Our Rating

The overall rating is based on review by our experts

Combat Effectiveness 8 / 10
Electronic Warfare 8 / 10
Technology 8 / 10
Range & Endurance 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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