Nautilus to Columbia: 70 years of the US Navy’s Nuclear Submarines

A highly illustrated history of the US Navy’s nuclear submarine program, from its origins in the postwar years through to the latest Columbia-class SSBNs introduced in 2020.

This title will cover the origins, design and development of the US Navy’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. This program was developed under the command of Hiram G. Rickover, the \”Father of the Nuclear Navy\” who oversaw the commissioning of the very first nuclear-powered attack submarine, the USS Nautilus (SSN 571) in 1952. This was a truly revolutionary design. Until the advent of nuclear power, the world’s submarine fleets traveled on the surface at night to charge their batteries, and only dove below the surface when enemy ships or planes were spotted. With the development of the USS Nautilus, the US Navy now had the ability to stay submerged for not just hours or days, but to hide out of harm’s way for weeks or months at a time


In a similar format and approach to the author’s previous title, 75 Years of the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, this book will cover all the 220+ submarine hulls built and delivered to the US Navy from the USS Nautilus through to the Navy’s newest class of submarine, the Columbia class SSBNs.

Format: Hardback
Pages: 352
Imprint: Osprey Publishing/Bloomsbury
Publication date: 23/11/2023