The USS Nautilus was the world’s first operational nuclear-powered submarine and the first vessel to complete a submerged transit across the North Pole. In July 1951, the United States Congress authorized the construction of nuclear-powered submarine for the US Navy.
Nautilus’ keel was laid at General Dynamics’ Electric Boat Division in Groton, Connecticut by President Harry S. Truman on June 14, 1952. She was christened on January 21, 1954 and launched into the Thames River. Nautilus was commissioned on September 30, 1954, under the command of Eugene P. Wilkinson, USN. She was put to sea for the first time on January 17, 1955. From 1955 to 1957, Nautilus continued to be used to investigate the effects of increased submerged speeds and endurance.
Nautilus began the history-making polar transit, Operation Sunshine, on June 9, 1958. On June 28, she arrived at Pearl Harbor to await better ice conditions and by July 23, she set a course northward. On August 3, Nautilus became the first watercraft to reach the geographic North Pole. From there, she continued on and after 96 hours and 2,945 km under the ice, she surfaced northeast of Greenland, having completed the first successful submerged voyage across the North Pole.
