Naval Transformation: The Nuclear Age

Eisenhower Doctrine – Promised aid to any threatened by Soviet communism; massive retaliation to any Soviet nuke strike; USN primary nuke deliverer

“Father Of The Nuclear Navy” – ADM Rickover transforms Navy to nuclear power

New Revolution In Naval Warfare – Nuke from steam as radical as sail to steam; fast transition; USS Nautilus 1^st nuke powered

Advantages Of Naval Nuclear Power – More room for other supplies (no fuel space), unlimited run time

Supercarriers – 4 added, Forrestal … 75 aircraft, 30 knots, angled deck, mirror landing, steam catapult, 80k tons

“Underway On Nuclear Power”

Cruise Of The USS Nautilus – Across north pole under ice cap; 60k mi voyage w/o stop (2^nd à 90k mi voyage)

USS Skate – Duplicates Nautilus; surfaces through ice at North pole

Cruise Of The USS Triton – circumnavigated the world underwater

USS George Washington – SSBN 598 – fired Polaris ballistic missiles (2500mi range)

USS Enterprise & Surface Ships – launched 1961; first CVN; largest CV at time; still in service