![]() Next, we'll learn how the U.S and the USSR put their nuclear subs to use during the Cold War. Throughout the Cold War, the Soviet Union continued produce (and still does produce) diesel-electric submarines armed with nuclear warheads. ![]() The Soviet Union launched its first nuclear sub armed with ballistic nuclear missiles in 1960, the same year that feat was accomplished by the U.S. Early Soviet subs, such as the K-19 (known as the "Widowmaker"), were plagued by problems and resulted in several fatal accidents. The development of a nuclear submarine took the Soviets about five years' time from drawing board to commissioning. The USSR didn't commission its first nuclear sub until 1958, and the submarine didn't cross the North Pole until 1962. Then, submarines were both powered by reactors and armed with ballistic nuclear weapons. The development of nuclear submarines followed a similar arch with both nations - first, submarines were developed that were powered by nuclear reactors but still used non-nuclear armaments. A few years after the Nautilus, an alarmed Soviet Union developed its own nuclear submarine capabilities. Over time, the submarines were armed with ballistic missiles capped with nuclear warheads. By this time, more advanced technologies were being developed and Nautilus functioned as a trainer sub after 1966.īeing able to travel the globe undetected meant that enemy military and commercial ships were exposed to submarine attack at any time and virtually any place on the Earth's oceans. Then it was assigned to the Sixth Fleet in 1960. After it reached the North Pole, the Nautilus was overhauled and had its reactor changed. Just a few years after being put to sea, the Nautilus became the first submarine to sail beneath the arctic ice, reaching the North Pole on Aug. Navy photo illustration by Stan Bailey Our latest nuclear submarine The 2.6 billion USS South Dakota (SSN 790), seen here in a photo. While submarines previously were maintained for coastal defense, this new breed of submarine could - and did - travel the globe. The incredible range and maneuverability of nuclear submarines radically altered naval strategy and tactics.
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