The History of Diesel-Electric Technologies and Nuclear Aircraft

Diesel-electric submarines have been around for a long time. The first diesel-electric submarine was built by the United States in the 1930s (Submarine). Diesel-electric submarines have two diesel engines. One engine turns the propeller and another one recharges a giant battery. The submarine must surface to recharge the battery and uses electric power once underwater (Do). Diesel aircraft carriers have also been around for a long time. The HMS Hermes was the first aircraft carrier built by the UK in 1924 (Aircraft). However, diesel-electric submarines and diesel aircraft carriers have many disadvantages. A diesel aircraft carrier is very heavy and slow since it needs to carry a lot of fuel (Ships). A diesel-electric submarine needs oxygen to recharge its batteries. Therefore, it needs to surface, limiting its stealth capabilities (Do). The solution would be submarines and aircraft carriers powered by a different energy source. Nuclear energy in the military began in 1942 when the United States realized the benefits of nuclear energy and started researching in nuclear fission. Since then, the United States has produced many of the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines for the United States Navy. Today, the United States operates only nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers. However, very little countries operate nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines (Nuclear). A nuclear-powered aircraft carrier works similarly to a nuclear power plant. But, unlike a nuclear power plant, an aircraft carrier has propellers. An aircraft carrier can have up to four propellers that measure up to 20 feet across and can weigh up to 30 tons. Steam is produced through nuclear fission. The steam rotates the fan blades inside the turbine. The fans turn the turbine shaft which turns the propeller moving the aircraft carrier forward.

The steam is then sent to special cooling tubes and the water flows back into the generator. The carrier is able to turn thanks to massive rudders. The aircraft carrier can generate around 288,000 horsepower. The nuclear reactor is a very restricted area located in the middle of the aircraft carrier (Carrier). A nuclear-powered submarine is similar to a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier except that it only has one reactor. This process requires no oxygen so the submarine does not need to surface. In a submarine, the nuclear reactor is located at the back of the submarine and is protected by a thick metal casing which weighs around 100 tons (Submarines). Currently, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, and India operate nuclear submarines. Only France and the United States operate nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (Marine). Nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers have many pros and cons (Powered). Pros: A nuclear submarine does not need to refuel for decades meaning it the only reason it needs to surface is to stock its food supply and oxygen. It also increases its stealth capability. Does not burn fossil fuels. A nuclear aircraft carrier is much faster since they are lighter since they don’t need to carry fuel. Cons: Nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers are very expensive. You can buy 2-4 diesel-powered submarines for the price of one nuclear-powered submarine. Nuclear submarines are louder underwater which makes them more prone to enemies. The reactor can fail which releases radiation. Although a nuclear aircraft carrier or submarine does not need to be refueled for 25 years, refueling it takes a long time. It can take one or two years to refuel a submarine and three years to refuel an aircraft carrier. It is also very expensive to refuel. Imagine trying to rebuild your car’s engine without opening the hood (Often).

Reactor engineers who work in the nuclear reactor are protected by suits and have radiation monitors. They follow strict safety procedures and work in shifts to ensure that no one stays inside the reactor for too long. They limit radiation exposure to 250mrem annually. This is very safe as it takes a minimum of 25 rem to have any short-term medial impacts. So, no reactor engineer is going to have medical effects from the reactors on a daily basis (And). Nuclear aircraft carriers and submarines are very safe. So far, the US Navy has not had any accidents. This is thanks to high standards and good training programs (Ships). However, the Soviet Union has had many nuclear submarine leaks. These have affected the environment and killed many crew members due to radiation poisoning (K-19). In the end, why aren’t other countries building nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines? It’s not that they’re not capable of doing it, they just haven’t chosen to do so. The main reason is money. Nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines are a lot more expensive than their diesel-electric counterparts. Even the UK, who was supposed to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier switched to using diesel fuel as using fuel for several decades costs less than a nuclear reactor. Some countries cannot afford to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier or submarine or some countries do have the money but have chosen to spend it elsewhere (Why).