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Why were nuclear submarines considered a big technological advance during the 1950's?
Not until the advent of Nuclear Power and the vision of Naval Engineer Hyman G. Rickover (Admiral Rickover, "Father of the Nuclear Navy"), did submarines become true submersibles.
Until that time, submarines were essentially designed as surface vessels that had a limited submerged operational capability, and were designed to run faster on the surface than underwater. Captured U-boats after WWII showed how far the Germans had advanced the art of submarine hull design and technology; while many of these innovations found their way into modern submarines, it was Rickover who realized that harnessing a nuclear reactor in a small design used to power submarines (and later ships) would give submarine warfare a significant technological boost. Unlike diesel-electric technology, nuclear power offers the advantage of huge power generation, which means better equipment (sensors, weapons, navigation, huge fresh water / air generating capacity, etc.), underwater speed (a major departure from previous designs) and virtually unlimited cruising range.
With his successful pressurized-water reactor design (still in use today) installed on the United States' (and the world's) first nuclear powered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN-571), nuclear power changed submarine technology and warfare from the limited role that it had in previous conflicts to the multiple mission threat it is today.
The application of Nuclear Power "sealed the deal" and allowed for the development of the highly capable and extremely complex modern submarine. Modern boats are only limited by her crew requirements, can dive deeper and move much faster underwater than on the surface, and have many different tactical capabilities. They are true submarines by every definition.
What else can I help you with?
What is an example of a scientific discovery that resulted from a technological advance?
the nuclear bomb came from nuclear fissons
Which country has the most nuclear submarines?
USA has the most nuclear submarines
Were most of the submarines in the Falklands War nuclear powered?
Argentina had diesel-electric submarines while the British had nuclear-powered submarines.
Did any nuclear submarines sink?
A number of nuclear submarines sank, and the circumstances vary from accident to accident. Wikipedia has a list, and by going there and entering "List of sunken nuclear submarines" you can review that list.
What are the basic idea of nuclear submarines?
Nuclear submarines are powered by a nuclear reactor and they are completely independent of air, so there is no need to surface frequently.
Which countries have nuclear submarines?
The US, Russia, Great Britain, France, China and (recently) India have nuclear submarines.
Do nuclear submarines generate nuclear power on the submarine?
Yes, nuclear submarines generate nuclear power. There is a nuclear reactor on board (hence the tern nuclear submarine) which creates steam to drive the main engines to turn the screw(s).
What is todays submarines powered by?
Nuclear Energy
How many nuclear submarines china have?
The PLA navy has more than 225,000 personnel and is thought to have as many as 70 submarines, 10 of them nuclear-powered
Is plutonium in navy nuclear applications?
Plutonium can be used in nuclear reactors for nuclear propulsion of ships and submarines.
Do submarines need gas?
No - all submarines, be it nuclear or diesel-electric, use diesel fuel, either for primary engines (DE) or backup generator (nuclear).
Are the UK's nuclear missiles based in submarines?
Since its free-fall nuclear weapons arsenal was decomissioned in 1998, the United Kingdom's only means of nuclear weapons delivery is via submarines and SLBMs.
