Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch on left contributed by Mike Smolinski, on right by Christopher J. Pauli.

Nautilus (SSN-571)
Keel Laying - Commissioning

Radio Call Sign: November - Whiskey - Charlie - Lima
To Additional Pages

Actice Service
Decommissioining
Present Day

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
Presidential Unit Citation (Courtesy of Christopher J. Pauli) - National Defense Service Medal
Nautilus Class Submarine: Laid down, 14 June 1952, at Electric Boat Co., Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT.; Launched, 21 January 1954; Commissioned, USS Nautilus (SSN-571), 30 September 1954; left Groton in 1979 under her own power and arrived at Mare Island in preparation for Decommissioning on 3 March 1980. Final Disposition; In May 1985 boat was towed back to Groton for use as a Museum, and was opened to the public on 11 April 1986 as a museum ship. Nautilus is located at the Historic Ship Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum, NAVSUBASE, New London, Groton, CT. Nautilus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Ref. No. 79003652, and was designated a National Historic Landmark on 20 May 1982.
Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.)

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 3,533 t., Submerged: 4,092 t.; Length 323' 9"; Beam 27' 8"; Draft 18' 7"; Speed, Surfaced 22 kts, Submerged 20+ kts; Complement 105; Armament, 6 21" torpedo tubes forward; Propulsion, nuclear, double propeller.(Courtesy of Ken Hart).
Click On Image
For Full Size Image		Size Image Description Source
Submarine History Profiles: 105kSubmarine History Profiles:
First true submarine: Holland (SS-01) in 1900.
First U.S. Deisel submarine: E-1 (SS-24) in 1911.
First Fleet boat: V-1 (SS-163) in 1922.
First GUPPY: Odax (SS-484) in 1947.
First nuclear powered submarine:Nautilus (SSN-571) in 1954.
First submarine to completey circumnavigate the earth submerged: Triton (SSRN-586) in 1959.
Latest generation of U.S. ballastic submarines: Ohio (SSBN-726), in 1980. 		US Navy photo courtesy of Robert Hall. Photo i.d. courtesy of Dave Johnston.
Submarine Silhouettes 1960179kSubmarine Silhouettes of 1960:
Nautilus (SSN-571), Seawolf (SSN-575), Skate (SSN-578), Skipjack (SS-585), Triton (SSRN-586), Halibut (SSGN-587), Thresher (SSN-593), Tullibee (SSN-597), George Washington (SSBN-598), & Ethan Allen (SSBN-608) classes.
U.S. Navy Photograph submitted by Ron Titus, courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand. Corp.
Nuclear Submarine Profiles187kNuclear Submarine Profiles 1960:
Nautilus (SSN-571),
Seawolf (SSN-575),
Triton (SSRN-586),
Skate (SSN-578) & Skipjack (SS-585) classes,
Halibut (SSGN-587) & Tullibee (SSN-597) classes,
George Washington (SSBN-598) &
Thresher (SSN-593) classes. 		US Navy photo courtesy of Ron Titus courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand. Corp. Photo i.d. courtesy of Dave Johnston. Photo added 09/24/07.
Nautilus 93k President Harry S. Truman authenticates the keel of the Nautilus (SSN-571) at her keel laying at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, Conn. on 14 June 1952. US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Nautilus 32k Commemorative postal cover marking the launching of the Nautilus (SSN-571) at Electric Boat Co., Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT., 21 January 1954 by the Former First Lady, Mamie Eisenhower.
 Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Nautilus 30k Obverse side of the Launching Medal for the first nuclear powered ship, Nautilus (SSN-571) on 21 January 1954. The ship's sponsor was the First Lady Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower. The medal was produced by the General Dynamics Corporation. Photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Photo added 09/24/07.
Nautilus 37k Reverse side of the Launching Medal for the first nuclear powered ship, Nautilus (SSN-571), on 21 January 1954. Photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Photo added 09/24/07.
Nautilus 102k Oil on canvas, entitled "Birth of the Nuclear Navy", featuring the Nautilus (SSN-571). Gift of Former First Lady, Mamie Eisenhower.
US Navy photo.
View the Nautilus (SSN-571)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Nautilus Alumni Association
Historic Ship NAUTILUS
WPBS Boston Virtual Tour of the USS Nautilus (SSN 571)
HISTORIC SUBMARINE DOCUMENTARY AND TRAINING FILMS
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Submarine Index

Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster.
This page is created and maintained by Michael Mohl
© 2008 Michael Mohl © 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.