A nuclear submarine is a submarine powered by a small nuclear reactor on board. This combined with the use of electrolysis for breathable oxygen and lithium hydroxide to filter the carbon dioxide, means that the only reason to surface is for consumables (food) and maintenance on the hull. The on board reactor intakes some seawater, then heats it up with the radioactive element (usually low-enriched Uranium), which then is used to power the turbine (with electric motors or steam and a turbine) to make the submarine go forward.
The first nuclear submarine was launched in January 1955 by the United States called the USS Nautilus. This was closely followed by the Soviets launching their first submarine in 1958. At the height of the arms race, the Soviet Union produced 245 nuclear submarines which was more than all the other nations combined.
The nuclear submarine was part of the nuclear triad. This was part of the United State’s plan to revolt against the Soviet Union, should they attack America. The idea was to have crafts capable of carrying nukes coming from land, air, and sea. With nuclear submarines, both sides could sneak up of the other nation’s shores and stay submerged for long periods of time. The main downside for early nuclear powered submarines is that they left a large heat trail the could be seen with infrared cameras (developed in 1929) that eventually found its way up to the surface making a path that leads straight to the position of the submarine.
From 1960 to 1989, there were 14 major documented nuclear failures on Soviet submarines. These issues range from cooling system failure to improper refueling and maintenance on the reactor. There were other incidents on nuclear submarines involving the reactor indirectly. These include overheating, flooding, or melted valves in the ballasts causing the sailors to be stuck under water and starve.
Nuclear submarines increased both side’s functionality in terms of naval combat and surveillance. This brought both sides closer to destroying each other, but because of the balance established by MAD, neither side launched warheads.
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