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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch on left contributed by Mike Smolinski, on right by Christopher J. Pauli.

Nautilus (SSN-571)
Active Service

Radio Call Sign: November - Whiskey - Charlie - Lima

To Additional Pages

Keel Laying - Commissioning
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).

Size	Image Description	Source
94k	Nautilus (SSN-571) on her initial sea trials in New York Sound, 17 January 1955.	US Navy photo # 80-G-709366,from "Our Navy" Magazine. First of March, 1955, courtesy of Stanley Svec. Photo i.d. courtesy of Tracy White.
483k	The Nautilus (SSN-571) on her initial sea trials off the New England coast in January 1955.	USN offical photo # 199068, courtesy of David Buell.
99k	Rear Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN, Commander, Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet (ComDesLant) tours Nautilus (SSN-571) at the New London Submarine Base, Groton, Connecticut, 31 May 1955. Behind him is Captain Raymond J. Zanzot, ComDesLant Materiel Officer.	Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-669547, now in the collections of the National Archives.
198k	Seawolf (SSN-575) and Nautilus (SSN-571) appear together in an Ingersol-Rand Company newsbrief dated 6/5/56.	Courtesy of Ron Titus.
28k	Seawolf (SSN-575) and Nautilus (SSN-571) appear together, circa 5 June 1956. Between 16 May and 5 August 1956, *Seawolf* made two voyages to Key West and participated in intensive training exercises.	Photo from Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995 and submitted courtesy of Robert Hurst. Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
74k	Nautilus (SSN-571) at pier 4 Charleston, SC in 1956.	US Navy photo courtesy of Dale C. Haskin.
80k	The Nautilus (SSN-571) loads torpedoes at New London on 19 December 1955.	USN photo from The American Submarine, by Norman Polmar, submitted by Robert Hurst. Photo added 05/07/08.
44k	Between 17 August & 15 September 1957, the Trigger (SS-564) joined Nautilus (SSN-571) and proceeded to the Arctic. She spent 10 days at the ice pack in the north Greenland Sea and made several short trips under the ice pack.	USN photo courtesy of Artic Submarine Laboratory, text courtesy of DANFS.
198k	The watch crew in the control room of Nautilus (SSN-571) maintains exact course and depth while the boat passes under the polar ice cap in 1958.	USN photo # N-0000F-001 courtesy of All Hands magazine by the Naval Historical Center, April 2002, pg. 46 & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
86k	Track of the Nautilus (SSN-571) during her 1958 submerged cruise to the Artic.	US Navy photo courtesy of the US Navy Arctic Submarine Laboratory.
25k	Polar flag flown by the Nautilus (SSN-571) during her 1958 submerged cruise to the Artic.	US Navy photo courtesy of the US Navy Arctic Submarine Laboratory.
71k	Painting commemorating the Nautilus (SSN-571) during her 1958 submerged cruise to the Artic.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
88k	Vice Admiral Eugene P. Wilkinson, born in August 1918 in Long Beach, California, graduated from San Diego State College in 1938 and was commissioned in December 1940. He served aboard the submarine Darter (SS-227) during World War II. Wilkinson was awarded the Silver Star for his service aboard the Darter. Prior to commanding Nautilus (SSN-571), he commanded the submarines Volador (SS-490), Sea Robin (SS-407), and Wahoo (SS-565). In August 1954, then a Commander, became the first commanding officer of the *Nautilus. During his three-year tour, he presided over pre-commissioning and post-commissioning trials of the submarine. These critical trials established the capabilities of the nuclear-powered submarine and were used in the development of early nuclear-powered submarine tactics. Nautilus* successfully attacked surface ships without being detected and evaded most pursuers. Following his tour aboard *Nautilus, he commanded the Navy's first nuclear-powered surface ship, Long Beach* (CGN-9) and served as Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic Fleet from 1969 to 1972.	US Navy photo courtesy of navy.mil. & submitted by Bill Gonyo. Photo added 05/07/08.
126k	As the second commanding officer of the Nautilus (SSN-571), Captain William Anderson made the first voyage in history from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean via the North Pole. On 3 August 1958, at a depth of 400 feet, *Nautilus* passed beneath the Polar ice cap. Prior to the trans-polar expedition, Anderson led *Nautilus* during a major North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) exercise in September and October 1957, demonstrating the nuclear submarine's capabilities against modern anti-submarine warfare forces. During this exercise, *Nautilus* evaded nearly all pursuers and launched many attacks without being detected. Anderson, a native of Bakerville, Tennessee, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1942 and from submarine school in September 1942. He served aboard Tarpon (SS-175) and Narwhal (SS-167), and was awarded the Bronze Star while serving aboard Trutta (SS-421) during World War II. Following the war he served aboard Sarda (SS-488), and Tang (SS-563), and as commanding officer of Wahoo (SS-565). He also served as Tactical Department Head at the U.S. Navy Submarine School and as Advisor to the Chief of the Naval Reactors Branch for Submarine Operating Matters, Atomic Energy Commission.	US Navy photo courtesy of navy.mil. & submitted by Bill Gonyo. Photo added 05/07/08.
108k	1958 Welcome Aboard invitation to visit the Nautilus (SSN-571). Mr. M. I. Dawson was a manager for the Supply Department at Mare Island.	Photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
245k	Welcome Front Cover.	Photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
415k	Welcome Combination, pages 2 & 3 of the Nautilus's (SSN-571) welcome aboard pamphlet.	Photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
250k	Page 4 of the welcome aboard pamphlet.	Photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
151k	Back Page of the welcome aboard pamphlet.	Photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
280k	The Nautilus (SSN-571) has just arrived at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 17 May 1958. She departed on 25 May 1958. She was starting operation "Sunshine".	US Navy photo # NY9 39322-5-58, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
367k	The Nautilus (SSN-571) entering New York harbor, 25 August 1958. *Nautilus* recently made a trans-polar voyage under the Arctic ice.	US Navy photo courtesy of the US Navy Arctic Submarine Laboratory.
33k	Nautilus (SSN-571) in New York harbor, 25 August 1958. *Nautilus* recently made a trans-polar voyage under the Arctic ice.	US Navy photo courtesy of the US Navy Arctic Submarine Laboratory.
100k	Front cover of a booklet for the Nautilus (SSN-571), which was produced by the General Dynamics Corporation in 1958, after *Nautilus* had been refueled for the first time.	Photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
258k	Pages 2 & 3 of the Booklet Interior for the Nautilus (SSN-571) following her refueling for the first time.	Photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
78k	Back cover of the Booklet for the Nautilus (SSN-571) following her refueling for the first time.	Photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
186k	Starboard side view of the Nautilus (SSN-571) underway, circa 1958 - 80.	Courtesy of goatlocker.org.
185k	For those of you who were around in those days, something to remember: A colorized Offical US Navy Photograph from Nabisco's Defenders of America Series of 1959. The cards were in packages of Nabisco Shredded Wheat from the National Biscuit Company of New York, N.Y. The Nautilus (SSN-571) crossing the North Pole accompanied by ice floes.	USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
62k	Series of four photos of Nautilus (SSN-571) in May 1959 after she entered Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine for her first complete overhaul - the first of any nuclear powered ship - and the replacement of her second fuel core. Her overhaul was completed in August 1960.	Photos courtesy of Ric Hedmen. Text courtesy of Jim Christley, submitted by Ric Hedmen.
61k	Keel view of the Nautilus (SSN-571) after she entered Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine for her first complete overhaul, May 1959 - August 1960.	Courtesy of Ric Hedmen.
81k	Bow view of the Nautilus (SSN-571) after she entered Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine for her first complete overhaul, May 1959 - August 1960.	Courtesy of Ric Hedmen.
76k	Bow view of the Nautilus (SSN-571) after she entered Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine for her first complete overhaul, May 1959 - August 1960.	Courtesy of Ric Hedmen.
90k	Port side view of the Nautilus (SSN-571), underway, circa late 1950's.	US Navy photo. Photo i.d. courtesy of Christopher J. Pauli.
57k	Nautilus (SSN-571) inboard & the Entemedor (SS-340) with other unidentified boats at the Connecticut State Pier, New London, CT., circa 1960.	Courtesy of Chuck Jensen.
194k	Nautilus (SSN-571) at New York, circa 1961.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
52k	A 1960's watercolor by the artist Albert K. Murray entitled "Nautilus (SSN-571)".	Painting #21088-195-HL. Courtesy of the USNHC.
61k	Halfbeak (SS-352), (second from right) immediately astern of Fulton (AS-11) at the Connecticut State Pier, New London, CT. Other submarines astern of *Fulton, include (far right) Nautilus* (SSN-571), (third from right) Bang (SS-385), and outboard of *Bang, (fourth from right) is Tusk* (SS-426). Moored to *Fulton's* starboard side are three additional submarines. The outboard boat on the starboard side is the Skipjack (SSN-585) & the other two are unidentified.	Photo from Subron 10 Cruise Book for 1964-1965, courtesy of Fred (Doc) Gardner xHM1(SS) / FMF USS Skipjack SSN 585 - SN(SS) (1964-1965) and Fred Willshaw.
77k	Nautilus (SSN-571), photo from Subron 10 Cruise Book 1964-1965.	US Navy photo courtesy of Fred Willshaw.
84k	Torpedo room of the Nautilus (SSN-571).	USN photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo via subguru.com.
160k	On 10 November 1966, the Nautilus (SSN-571) collided with the Essex (CV-9) while running submerged about 350 miles east of MoreheadCity, North Carolina, during underway replenishment exercises. Both ships returned to port unassisted. The submarine received extensive damage to its sail area and went to New London, Connecticut. The carrier sustained an open hull cut in the bow area and proceeded to Norfolk, Virginia.	US Navy photo courtesy of cvsg-57veterans.org, submitted by Anton Karklit.
23k	Commemorative post card marking the Nautilus's (SSN-571) 20th anniversary sailing, 17 January, 1975.	Courtesy of Richard Leonhardt.
4m	Change of Command ceremony PDF onboard the Nautilus (SSN-571) December 1976.	Photos courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Photo added 05/07/08.
49k	Captain Dick Riddell poses alongside the Nautilus (SSN-571) during his command, Dec. 1976 - March 1980.	USN photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo via ussnautilus.org.