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| Science & Technology |
| The little sub that could arrives for inactivation - NR-1 |
| 2008-12-06 |
| head to link for photos and story KITTERY, Maine — The NR-1 research submarine arrived at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Thursday morning to begin the inactivation process after a glorious naval career of exploring the depths around the globe. The one-of-a-kind, nuclear-powered undersea research and ocean engineering submarine, along with her crew of four officers and 30 enlisted navy personnel, was towed up river by the USNS Grasp, a rescue and salvage ship. Fresh off her final mission to search for the wreckage of the Bonhomme Richard, the flagship of naval hero John Paul Jones, the NR-1 submarine is expected to spend a year at the shipyard. The process of inactivating the 40-year-old submarine involves it being defueled using the same techniques that have been used to refuel and defuel more than 400 naval nuclear reactors. The hydraulic systems are drained; expendable materials, tools, spare parts and furnishings are removed; and tanks containing oil and other fluids are drained and cleaned. Following the successful completion of the inactivation, the boat will then be prepared for transport to Bremerton, Wash., for reactor compartment disposal at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #3 USNS Grasp? Well, I suppose it beats "Succor"... |
| Posted by: mojo 2008-12-06 15:47 |
| #2 They Nautilus is safely kept as a memorial. Seems like NR-1 would be a candidate for something other than burial in Idaho. |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-12-06 05:40 |
| #1 ...And her operational record should be declassified somewhere around, oh, 2175... Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2008-12-06 05:36 |