A tour of the ballistic missile submarine Redoutable (photos)
Interesting tour of the only ballistic missile submarine in the world that is a museum preservation.
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Those old subs were basically surface ships that could slink (sink?) away. That is why the old hull shapes were funny looking, for stability on the surface.
Any kind of fire was real bad (still is). Imagine all the brush dust from the DC motors and generators! No vfds back then.
That would be scary, esp having seen batteries fail.
I think Das Boot gives you a feeling for the level of scary.
This may have been true pre-TMI. These days the safety-conscious atmosphere at commercial nuclear sites (that I have seen, at least) borders on fanatical. The Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) has very high standards (in addition to the NRC) which, for a variety of financial reasons, are treated as regulations by the utilities. And part of INPO's philosophy is to constantly raise the bar on plant safety.
BTW, they put the sail of the NR-1 over in New London with the Nautilus. Another cool Rickover contribution.
I wonder what Rickover thought of Ayn Rand.
No reason this safety record can not be carried into the private sector.
Still gotta learn more about these Thorium reactors that Jan brought to my attention though.
Thanks. You were able to do something for me that I couldn't. I have a close friend who spent 20 years in a sub. He considered the type of ship illustrated as being "luxurious." However, he's even older than me.
Air Craft Carriers, and Nuclear subs where everyone is confined and out to see 6 months or more at a time, in rough oceans and how many accidents?
How much safer are the ones on solid ground. Shows the ignorance of the left. they have no clue.
Years ago, the set up a deal to give some money to Hawaii. Old nuke boats are hauled over to Hawaii th have the reactor dismantled. So a special ship is chartered to bring the reactor back to the states for disposal, and the rest of the dismantled boat gets cut up and sold for scrap. There's efficiency for ya, huh?
In any event, they do have Nautilus on static display in Connecticut.
I spent a large part of my life in submarines. Naturally I know that our crews and boats are the best in the world!
The whole boat looks claustrophobic.
It makes me want to go to the museum.