Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program: 1976. Hearing before the Subcommittee on Legislation of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, Congress of the United States, Ninety-Fourth Congress, Second Session. Testimony of Admiral H. G. Rickover, March 18, 1976
Hearings were held on the U.S. Navy nuclear propulsion program and the ERDA light water breeder reactor program (which has both civilian and military implications). Principal witnesses were Richard W. Roberts of ERDA and Admiral H. G. Rickover. The Navy fleet consisting of 152 nuclear vehicles (138 submarines) is smaller than the Russian fleet, which has no nuclear surface vessels. Testimony covered the status of submarine construction, performance, missiles, cost, and safety. No accidents or casualties have resulted in damage to fuel or release of fission products in spite of the accumulated 1400 years of reactor operation. Care in the design, operation, training, and oversight is credited in citing the safety record. It was emphasized that public safety is not a serious problem since naval reactors are mobile. Naval information is made available to the commercial nuclear industry. Rickover stressed the importance of having a single technically responsible person at the center of a communications network to receive and dispense information. He urged a long-range program to build nuclear-powered ships during peacetime so that top-quality vessels will be available when needed. Specific recommendations were to proceed at once with a new nuclear carrier, nuclear strike cruisers, and the conversion of the cruiser Long Beach to Aegis. The Aegis fleet, entirely nuclear, willhave maximum mobility and minimum logistic support for use in high-threat areas. (DCK)
- OSTI ID:
- 7121379
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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