What was Admiral Rickovers impact on the modern submarine force?
Admiral Hyman G. Rickover was a very strong and effective manager and engineer. He had the “radicalquot; idea to bring nuclear power to submarines. This Captain Nemo-like idea turned out to be a revolutionary point in U.S. submarine history. Nuclear power enables submarines to operate underwater continually. Older submarines operated underwater using a large battery and electric motors to turn the submarine’s propeller. The battery usually had to be recharged at least once a day. This meant that the submarine needed to come to periscope depth and run a very loud diesel engine. If the submarine is making a lot of noise, it is difficult for the SONAR system to detect anything. This makes the submarine vulnerable to attack. It is very hard to sneak up on a quiet nuclear-powered submarine. Admiral Rickover’s idea turned into reality, improving forever the endurance, stealth, and power of the U.S. submarine force.
