Evening star., 1955-01-17
World First
A-Subnlari1e
Starts Trials
Nautilus Leaves
Dock at Groton in
Historic Event
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GROTON, Conn.,, Jan. IT,.
The atomic submarine Nautilus.
said by the Navy to be moving
under s.nuclear propulsion. :.
pulled away from her dock at
l1;0l am. today to start her
builders trial.
This is the f1rst time that any
sort of q vehicle has moved hy
atomic power Z said g Navy offl-
Ger shortly before the trials be-
gan.
Leaving the dock at the Elec-
trio Boat Division Of General
Dynamics Corp, where she was
launched a year ago, the Nautilus
moved slowly to the middle Of
the Thames River before head
ing downstream for the trial area
In Long Island Sound.
Ideal Day for Launching.
The Navy could not have
ordered a more ideal day for the
historic event. Under an almost
cloudless sky. the slight breeze
family rippied the blue sun.
glinted waters of the Thames.
Although the event was per.
haps as significant as the Sail-
ing Of Robert Fulton's Clermont
from New York August II, 1907.
no civilian spectators were on
hand to see the Nautilus on.
There were d few observers.
however, on docks In New Lol-
don. a half mile away across the
river.
A Navy tug with q party Of
newsmen hovered at q discreet
distance from the 300-foot
Nautilus.
Can Circle Globe.
Navy sources reported the
3.0O0-ton Nautilus can cross the
Atlantic submerged at full speed
and can circle the globe without
refueling.
The .atomic fire box OF the
Nautilus, which pours steam into
the turbine, was cautiously tried
out several days ago while the
boat was tied to the pier.
The Navy said more than 100
officers and men were aboard the
Nautilus today. More than 60
civilian experts and technicians
were also aboard.
The Navy had hoped this day
would come three months ago,
but an error Ia steam pipe In
stallation delayed it.
Surface Trials Later.
When she reaches Long Island
Sound the Nautilus for hours.
and probably days, win 90
through her surface trials
slowly and easily at first, then
with gradually increased power
until every control and indi.
Gator is checked out.
Later the critical time for dive
ing will come. Here. too, the ap.
proach will be cautious. The
Nautilus skipper, Comdr. Eu-
gene P, wilkinson. will first care-
fully Sflood down the boat. let.
ling water slowly into ballast
tanks until the Nautilus settles
slowly, at even keel. below the
water.
II satisfied with the operation
Comdr. Wilkinson then can start
planning down. using the flns
tlike the elevator controls of an
airplaneJ to force the submarine
down as she moves forward.
s Hull Is super Strong.
The Nautilus huh is super-
strong. She is built to dive far
deeper than any previous sub
mersible hundreds Of feet land
can remain submerged under full
power far longer than her air.
breathing crew can stay down.
Expected underwater speed Of
the Nautilus win be over 20
knots, possibly over 30.
The Nautilus is far and away
the most expensive submarine
ever bufltsfor the United States
.savy. The Navy estimates the
cost OF the nun at $40 miiil.ai.
Unoffcial estimates Of the total
cost Of the Nautilus, including
her reactor and propilsions
systems tshe has a standard
diesel engine and storage bat-
terry power plant ais well as the
atomic-steam turbine system)
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