Nuclear submarine

A nuclear submarine is a <a href="/facts/Submarine/6fhcAKHV">submarine</a> powered by a <a href="/facts/Nuclear_reactor/8xqjIbge">nuclear reactor</a>, but not necessarily <a href="/facts/Nuclear_weapons/QVdBcMdm">nuclear-armed</a>. In the US <a href="/facts/Hull_classification_symbol/sF0X1daX">classification</a>, nuclear-powered submarines are designated as SSxN, where the SS denotes submarine, x=G means that the <a href="/facts/Cruise-missile_submarine/DdgKzILW">submarine</a> is equipped with <a href="/facts/Guided_missiles/C5VwQClz">guided missiles</a> (usually <a href="/facts/Cruise_missiles/Frego9PF">cruise missiles</a>), x=B means that the <a href="/facts/Ballistic_missile_submarine/Alykksc1">submarine</a> is equipped with <a href="/facts/Ballistic_missiles/Pl6juY73">ballistic missiles</a> (usually <a href="/facts/Intercontinental_ballistic_missile/0vKnj2Y7">intercontinental</a>) and the N means that the submarine is nuclear-powered. SSN refers to nuclear-powered <a href="/facts/Attack_submarines/8TsVhV80">attack submarines</a>, which do not carry missiles.
Nuclear submarines have considerable performance advantages over "conventional" (typically <a href="/facts/Marine_diesel_engine/fmjXgupn">diesel-electric</a>) submarines. <a href="/facts/Nuclear_marine_propulsion/gVcaF3kF">Nuclear propulsion</a>, being completely independent of air, frees the submarine from the need to surface frequently, as is necessary for conventional submarines. The large amount of power generated by a nuclear reactor allows nuclear submarines to operate at high speed for long periods, and the long interval between <a href="/facts/Refueling_and_overhaul/aNvlB6Gy">refuelings</a> grants a virtually unlimited range, making the only limits on voyage times factors such as the need to restock food or other consumables. Thus <a href="/facts/Nuclear_propulsion/nYPc1mTy">nuclear propulsion</a> solves the problem of limited mission duration that all electric (<a href="/facts/Electric_battery/bqEpm4ue">battery</a> or <a href="/facts/Fuel_cell/UcMYnCW3">fuel cell</a> powered) submarines face.
The high cost of nuclear technology means that relatively few of the world's military powers have fielded nuclear submarines. Radiation incidents have occurred within the Soviet submarines, including <a href="/facts/Nuclear_and_radiation_accidents_by_death_toll/C78kA1D8">serious nuclear and radiation accidents</a>, but American naval reactors starting with the <a href="/facts/S1W_reactor/gb3JCDnc">S1W</a> and iterations of designs have operated without incident since <a href="/facts/USS_Nautilus_(SSN-571)/p73kaFTj">USS Nautilus (SSN-571)</a> launched in 1954.

Nuclear submarine open-in-new

Nuclear submarine