EP 738 America’s Nuclear Sub Fleet: Our ‘Silent’ Military Advantage

As a Connecticut resident, it’s hard not to be aware of the storied history of Hiram Rickover, the “Father of the Nuclear Navy” and the development and commissioning of the first nuclear submarine in in 1952 at the Groton, Connecticut. Now with a fleet of over 220 boats, or ships as they came to be called, America’s superiority in this realm cannot be overstated. This ‘silent service’ patrols the world’s oceans, un- detectable to adverseries, who are nonetheless aware of the powerful capabilities they hold and the payloads they carry. The nuclear propulsion allows these ships to stay underwater, literally, for months at a time. Prior to using nuclear generated power, submarines had to rise to the surface on a daily basis. America has maintained its nuclear sub superiority for many decades now and shows no sign of giving it up, which presents great challenges to any country trying to engage with us. James Goodall, our guest, has penned 29 books and his latest, “Nautilus to Columbia: 70 Years of the US Navy’s Nuclear Submarines” is a remarkable pictorial of the history of one of the most successful military programs developed in the history of warfare. Stay to hear what he says about the role they might play if China, as it indicates, tries to take back Taiwan by force.

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