[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 116 (Thursday, September 9, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   MARKING THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMISSIONING OF THE ``U.S.S. 
                               NAUTILUS''

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                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 9, 1999

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 45th Anniversary 
of a wonder of the modern world--the U.S.S. Nautilus (SSN571). The 
Nautilus was the world's first nuclear submarine and its creation 
revolutionized the Navy forever.
  Tonight, in my district, citizens will gather by the Nautilus, moored 
now at the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, CT, to mark the 45th 
Anniversary of the commissioning of this magnificent ship. I am pleased 
to join them in this effort.
  The story of the Nautilus actually begins much earlier than September 
1954. Beginning with the development of modern submarines in the early 
part of this century, the Navy had struggled with the problems of 
prolonged submersion of submarines. The idea of using nuclear power was 
revolutionary. It promised the ability to stay underwater almost 
indefinitely. Not only would duration underwater be dramatically 
increased, but the increase in power would mean that submarines would 
be able to travel at much higher speeds--up to 20 knots. This 
combination of factors would mean that submarines would be able to 
travel all the world's oceans.
  When the Navy decided to go ahead with the project, it turned to the 
incomparable skills of the craftsmen and designers at Electric Boat. 
Following the keel laying in June 1952, these dedicated employees 
worked extraordinarily long hours and pushed themselves to complete 
their task. By January 1954, the Nautilus was completed, christened and 
prepared for testing at the shipyard. Finally, in September 1954, 45 
years ago this month, the Navy commissioned its first nuclear 
submarine. The Nautilus made its mark by obliterating previous 
submarine records for speed, time and distance traveled while 
submerged. By the time of its first refueling, it had traveled over 
62,000 miles. In 1957, it became the first submarine to travel below 
the polar ice caps. On August 3, 1958 the Nautilus made history as the 
first ship to reach the North Pole.
  The Nautilus was the first of a long and prestigious line of nuclear 
submarines that have played a vital role in safeguarding our national 
security over the decades that followed. Ballistic missile submarines 
changed the face of strategic stability during the Cold War. Attack 
submarines kept fleets safe and our shipping secure. Specially modified 
submarines carried out critical intelligence and special operations 
missions. Now, we are on the verge of deploying the next generation of 
submarines, one that once again will be empowered with unprecedented 
capabilities.
  Now I stand here, ten years after the Cold War, in the Capitol of the 
only superpower on Earth. The Nautilus, the ships that followed and the 
great Americans who built and sailed them have made this possible. On 
this anniversary, we honor more than a piece of machinery. We honor all 
that it represents ingenuity, hard work, courage and patriotism.

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