https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/c44321a4-526b-471f-9083-9f66c6e48136 This U.S. Navy film "The Nuclear Navy" (1967) with narrator Frank Blair, tells the story of the development of nuclear power for the Navy by the Atomic Energy Commission. Includes a brief history of nuclear reactors and shows the development and activities of the submarine USS Nautilus, the Polaris missile boats, the cruiser USS Long Beach and the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. 00:00 USS Enterprise plaque honoring Democritus, the Greek philosopher who first hypothesized the existence of the atom 2400 years ago. 1:15 Scientists and engineers have harnessed the power of the atom . 2:08 The history of nuclear power is a great detective story that gained momentum in 1938. This progress led to the creation of submersibles and surface ships that can operate for years without refueling. 3:22 Key scientific breakthroughs are highlighted, including the splitting of the uranium-238 atom by Lise Meitner and Otto Hahn in Germany (1938), and Enrico Fermi’s demonstration of a self-sustained nuclear reaction in the US (1942). 4:02 Following WWII, the US Navy and the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) began a project to use nuclear power for naval ship propulsion. Captain (later Vice Admiral) Hyman G. Rickover became the driving force behind this initiative. 5:21 Faced with no existing technology, Rickover directed the design and testing of a pressurized water reactor (PWR). A land-based prototype was built in Idaho 6:51 In 1951, the Navy contracted Westinghouse to build a similar plant for the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus. 7:19 An instructional segment explains how a nuclear propulsion plant works. Control rods regulate the fission of uranium fuel in the reactor, creating heat. This heat is transferred via pressurized water to a steam generator, which produces steam to drive the ship's turbines and generators. 8:16 The USS Nautilus was launched in 1954. On January 17, 1955, it sent the historic message: "Underway on nuclear power." 10:01 In 1958, the Nautilus successfully traveled under the Arctic ice to the North Pole. Nautilus traveled over 62,000 miles on its first fuel charge—a feat that would have required 2 million gallons of oil for a conventional submarine. 10:34 The USS Seawolf initially used a liquid sodium-cooled reactor. However, the pressurized water reactor proved superior, leading the Navy to standardize all subsequent nuclear plants on the PWR design. 11:41 New records were set by subsequent submarines: the Skate made the first submerged transatlantic voyage; the Sargo explored uncharted Arctic seas; and the Seadragon transited the Northwest Passage in 1960. 13:08 The USS Triton completed a submerged circumnavigation of the globe in 1960, covering 36,000 miles in 84 days without being detected. 13:44 The development of the Polaris missile system combined with nuclear hulls created a potent strategic deterrent. These "Fleet Ballistic Missile" submarines could remain submerged for months and reach any land-based target. 14:57 The Navy expanded nuclear power to surface ships, beginning with the cruiser USS Long Beach (commissioned September 1961) and the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (commissioned November 1961). 15:50 Enterprise is the largest warship in the world. Its eight nuclear reactors allow it to exceed 30 knots. Because it requires no fuel oil for propulsion, it can carry significantly more aircraft fuel and ordnance. 16:54 The guided-missile frigate USS Bainbridge provides a nuclear-powered shield for the fleet against air and submarine attacks. 17:23 In 1964, the Enterprise, Long Beach, and Bainbridge formed the world's first nuclear-powered task force. They conducted "Operation Sea Orbit," circumnavigating the globe (30,000 miles) in 58 days without refueling or replenishment. . 22:25 The tactical advantages of nuclear propulsion were proven in combat for the first time in December 1965, when the Enterprise and Bainbridge joined the 7th Fleet off the coast of Vietnam 25:16 Nuclear discoveries are shown benefiting civilian sectors, including electrical power plants, desalination (such as at McMurdo Sound in the Antarctic), and advanced medical research at the National Naval Medical Center. 26:51 Celebrating the visionaries who harnessed the atom, and the true beginning of the nuclear age. Motion picture films don't last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. We collect, scan and preserve 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have films you'd like to have scanned or donate to Periscope Film, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us via the link below. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV_aVQq4GK0 Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 05:37:11 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/c44321a4-526b-471f-9083-9f66c6e48136 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.