The Navy's Secret Submarine That Could Wait on the Ocean Floor
In short: Imagine a vessel so small it could feel the ocean's currents, yet powerful enough to remain submerged for weeks. The NR-1 was a nuclear-powered anomaly—a submarine that bypassed standard oversight to perform clandestine deep-sea recoveries, from lost aircraft to wreckage of historical proportions.
Launched in 1969, the NR-1 (nicknamed "Nerwin") was a unique ocean engineering and research vessel. Unlike standard warships, it was never officially named or commissioned. This status allowed Admiral Hyman Rickover to bypass the usual congressional oversight that governed naval vessels. While Rickover envisioned a fleet of these small nuclear submarines, budget restrictions meant only one was ever built.
The NR-1's primary advantage was its ability to remain stationary on the seabed for extended periods, even in heavy weather that forced surface ships back to port. It served as a vital tool for searching and recovering objects from the deep sea. Notable missions included the 1976 recovery of F-14 parts and missiles, and the search for critical components following the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
Life aboard was grueling due to its compact size. The crew of about 10 men lived without kitchens or baths, eating frozen TV dinners and bathing once a week with a bucket of water. Due to extreme spatial constraints, numerous personnel experienced nausea; one leader remarked that individuals simply chose between vomiting and remaining dry. Despite these hardships, its nuclear propulsion provided nearly unlimited endurance for mapping currents, temperatures, and uncharted sinkholes.
The submarine's capabilities included an object recovery claw, a manipulator with cutting tools, and television periscopes for surface vision. It performed diverse tasks ranging from exploring the wreck of the HMHS Britannic to surveying marine sanctuaries. After being deactivated in 2008, pieces of the sub were preserved as a testament to its role in underwater exploration.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: American submarine NR-1
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