Nuclear submarines are a powerful tool of the modern military, capable of traveling to depths far beyond what conventional submarines can reach. With a crew of 134 and the ability to submerge to depths of up to 800 feet, nuclear submarines are a formidable force. The nuclear reactor that powers the submarine also provides power for other systems, such as air quality control, water distillation, temperature regulation, and more. Nuclear submarines have many advantages over conventional submarines, including greater speed and range.
At present, only six countries have nuclear-powered submarines: the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Russia, China, and India. Each submarine is equipped with up to eight missiles, each of which can carry up to five nuclear warheads. The development of the world's first nuclear submarine was made possible by the successful development of a nuclear propulsion plant by a team of scientists and engineers from the United States in the Naval Reactor Branch of the Bureau of Ships and the Atomic Energy Commission. The Department of Defense is responsible for maintaining and monitoring radioactive parts once nuclear reactors used to power submarines and aircraft carriers are decommissioned.
During the Cold War, four Soviet submarine yards (Sevmash in Severodvinsk, Admiralteyskiye Verfi in St. Petersburg, Zvezdochka in Severodvinsk, and Amur Shipyard in Komsomolsk-on-Amur) commissioned five to ten nuclear submarines each year. Nuclear-powered submarines have played an important role in the nuclear triad throughout the Cold War and have been used tactically in the War on Terrorism with advanced weapon systems. The main advantage of nuclear propulsion is that it allows submarines to remain submerged for extended periods without having to surface for air.
This makes them much harder to detect than conventional submarines. However, one weakness of nuclear submarine stealth technology is that the reactor must be cooled even when the submarine is not in motion; about 70% of its output heat dissipates into seawater. To detect other vessels or objects underwater, submarines may be equipped with listening devices using sets of hydrophones connected to all outer surfaces. In conclusion, nuclear submarines are an invaluable asset to any navy. With their advanced technology and powerful weapons systems, they can travel far greater distances than conventional submarines and remain undetected for longer periods of time.
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