Post by PMP Webmaster on Jan 26, 2005 10:02:42 GMT -5
Over the weekend I finished this book, written by Lee Vyborny and Don Davis, on the world's smallest nuclear-powered submarine. The NR-1 was built from 1965 to 69 at a cost of 100 million dollars (yeah, those are *1969* dollars - shudder to think what that is now). The sub, only 135 feet long and about 12 feet in diameter, is the only deep-diving nuclear sub around, able to go to a depth of about 3000 feet and stay there for weeks at a time. Although slow (a max speed of only around 5 knots), it has viewports, a manipulator arm, and believe it or not, WHEELS. The NR-1 can literally roll across the bottom of the ocean floor, looking for...well...whatever it is that this sub does.
Most of the NR-1's missions over the last three decades have been (and still are) classified. It has a very small crew and no cargo capacity, and it carries no weapons. However, it can go places no other conventional sub can go, and stay longer than any deep submersible can stay. It's not an official navy ship (which is why it's not called USS Whatever, SSN-XXX), and it's never noted as being in or out of port. Definitely an interesting piece of cold war technology.
Edit: Here's a link to the book's home page: www.nr-1-book.com/
Most of the NR-1's missions over the last three decades have been (and still are) classified. It has a very small crew and no cargo capacity, and it carries no weapons. However, it can go places no other conventional sub can go, and stay longer than any deep submersible can stay. It's not an official navy ship (which is why it's not called USS Whatever, SSN-XXX), and it's never noted as being in or out of port. Definitely an interesting piece of cold war technology.
Edit: Here's a link to the book's home page: www.nr-1-book.com/
