nuclear submarine
Reactor-powered undersea craft
A nuclear submarine is a submarine powered by a nuclear reactor rather than diesel engines or batteries.
The reactor allows it to operate submerged for months without refueling, limited mainly by crew supplies.
Nuclear submarines carry either ballistic missiles for strategic deterrence or torpedoes and cruise missiles for attack missions.
The nuclear submarine surfaced after three months at sea.
Propelled undersea explosive
- sonarUnderwater detection by echoes
- periscopeAngled optical viewing tube
- hunter-killerOne who tracks and eliminates
- fleetVehicles under unified command
engagement · tactical · wolfpack · convoy · depth charge · countermeasures · fire control · targeting
Controlled fission apparatus
- fissionNuclear breakup releasing energy
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- enrichmentImprovement through addition
control rods · coolant · steam turbine · shielding · core · megawatts · refueling · endurance
Deliberately planned for advantage
- ballistic missileSelf-propelled arcing munition
- TridentBallistic missile designation
- MADMutual annihilation doctrine
- Cold WarProlonged East-West standoff
proliferation · arms race · boomer · patrol · counterforce · retaliation · doomsday
Outer covering or frame
- pressure hullWatertight vessel structure
- titaniumElement twenty-two
- double hullTwo nested watertight barriers
- conning towerSubmarine's raised control structure
sail · torpedo tubes · hatches · welding · shipyard · drydock · Groton · keel
Hull failure pressure point
- pressureForce upon contact
- divingEntering water deliberately
- surfacingComing to the surface
- ballast tanksSubmersible buoyancy compartments
fathom · neutral buoyancy · thermocline · abyssal · silent running
Producing no sound
- undetectableImpossible to notice
- cavitationPressure-induced void creation
- bafflesPerplexes or confuses deeply
- quietingMaking something still
degaussing · low-profile · covert · patrol · silent running
torpedo
Propelled undersea explosive
- sonarUnderwater detection by echoes
- periscopeAngled optical viewing tube
- hunter-killerOne who tracks and eliminates
fleet · engagement · tactical · wolfpack · convoy · depth charge · countermeasures · fire control · targeting
reactor
Controlled fission apparatus
enrichment · control rods · coolant · steam turbine · shielding · core · megawatts · refueling · endurance
strategic
Deliberately planned for advantage
- ballistic missileSelf-propelled arcing munition
- TridentBallistic missile designation
- MADMutual annihilation doctrine
Cold War · proliferation · arms race · boomer · patrol · counterforce · retaliation · doomsday
hull
Outer covering or frame
- pressure hullWatertight vessel structure
- titaniumElement twenty-two
- double hullTwo nested watertight barriers
conning tower · sail · torpedo tubes · hatches · welding · shipyard · drydock · Groton · keel · commissioning
crush depth
Hull failure pressure point
ballast tanks · fathom · neutral buoyancy · thermocline · abyssal · silent running
silent
Producing no sound
- undetectableImpossible to notice
- cavitationPressure-induced void creation
- bafflesPerplexes or confuses deeply
quieting · degaussing · low-profile · covert · patrol · silent running
- Pentagon ProgramsDARPA, F-22, F-22 Raptor, F-35, B-2 bomber
- nuclear technologyreactor, reactor core, reactor cores, fission reactor, fusion reactor
- Innovationselectricity, steam engine, printing press, telephone, telegraph
- Navieswarships, ships, cruiser, battleship, sailors
- Navy Shipsdestroyer, cruiser, battleship, frigate, aircraft carrier
- Nuclear Armsnukes, atom bomb, hydrogen bombs, H-bombs, arms race
nuclear submarinerowboat
Oar-propelled small vessel
canoe · dugout · raft · sailing vessel · fishing boat
nuclear submarineaircraft carrier
Warship with flight deck
battleship · destroyer · cruiser · aircraft · frigate
nuclear, submarine, nucleus, nuclei, nucleic, nucleotide, nucleotides, nucleoside, nucleolus