Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

• In Focus: 1900

• In Focus: World War One

• In Focus: Interwar

• In Focus: World War Two

• In Focus: Post War Conflict

• In Focus: Cold War Climate

  • Submarines

  • Royal Marines

  • Fleet Air Arm

• In Focus: Falklands and Beyond

• Special Exhibition: Falklands 25

Learning

• How To: Understand Propaganda

• Propaganda Image Galleries

• Education Project: Sea With Your Own Eyes

Development of Nuclear powered submarines

How did Nuclear power affect Royal Navy submarines?

The advent of nuclear power reactors for use onboard submarines during the 1950s provided the solution to one of the main problems faced by the Submarine Service. World War Two had illustrated how valuable submarines were to naval warfare, but it also showed their vulnerability to counter detection. Diesel powered submarines had to regularly surface in order to re-charge batteries and refresh their air, offering an opportunity for their detection and destruction.

Nuclear reactors provided enough power to drive boats through the water faster than most surface warships and also powered life support systems that meant the submarine could remain dived for as long as necessary, limited only by the endurance of the crew.

Nuclear training demo kit (RNSM)

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• The American influence

• Nuclear reactors

• The Royal Navy's first Nuclear submarine

Follow the links to find more about...

Initial technical developments

Development of Nuclear powered submarines

Britain's Nuclear deterrent

HMS Resolution

Related External Links

• Royal Navy Submarine Museum