USS Nautilus, first nuclear sub. Permanently moored at museum.

In July of 1951 Congress authorized construction of the world's first nuclear powered submarine. On December 12th of that year, the Navy Department announced that she would be the sixth ship of the fleet to bear the name Nautilus. Her keel was laid by President Harry S. Truman at the Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut on June 14, 1952.

After nearly 18 months of construction, Nautilus was launched on January 21, 1954. Eight months later, on September 30, 1954, Nautilus became the first commissioned nuclear powered ship in the United States Navy.

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Nautilus

July 2005, Photo 43

Propellers from USS Nautilus

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