USS Nautilus - First Nuclear Submarine - New London CT USA

I wanted to share something interesting. During the 1950's, the US developed the first nuclear fast attack submarine that allowed a vessel to be limited in deployment by food and weapons alone. This submarine is now a floating museum in New London CT. This was a first generation nuclear submarine and I worked on 2nd generation subs and was stationed on 3rd and 4th generation subs. Please enjoy.

Topside view of the USS Nautilus, SSN 571. This is the submarine sail where the antennas and masts are and conning tower when on the surface. When transiting in and out of port, you would attach yourself to topside with harnesses. In the north Atlantic, this was extremely interesting in the winter.

This was your primary way in and out.... at the bottom, there is a ladder and at the top a watertight hatch that was your protection from the deep sea. This was normally the mid-ships hatch and you also had hatches in the front and the back of the submarine.

One of many berthing areas on submarines. You would normally have berthing for 75% of total personnel assigned and junior personnel would HOT RACK. When you were HOT RACKing, you would share the rack with another sailor and when you were working they would sleep and vice versa. You did use your own bedding but space for clothing, personnel effects and bedding was extremely limited.

The crews mess had anywhere from four to six tables for 100 plus personnel and this area was utilized for movies, meals, casino night, initiations when they were PC, training, medical and similar operations. We had meals named Puss-Rockets, Nairobi Trail Markers, Acid Rain Spaghetti, and although the names may indicate the foo was not great, the food was normally the best in the Navy.

This is the galley where food was cooked for 100 plus personnel four times each day, MID-RATs was always the best meal that was served at midnight each day. MID-RATs was normally pizza or something similar.

The radio room was your only connection with home and the world when you were deployed. When underway, you were allowed messages of around twenty words per month from your family. You could not even guess how special these short messages were.

I appreciate your looking at my world when I was a young adult riding nuclear submarines.

Please feel free to ask questions. If I cannot answer due for security reasons, I will let you know.

Have a great day, Jay Patterson