Atomic Sub

One of the Navy's fondest dreams has always been the "true submarine"--an underwater vessel that never has to surface to charge its batteries, and needs no snorkel-like breathing apparatus. Last week there were some guarded indications that the true sub was out of the dream stage at last. Said Atomic Energy Commissioner Sumner Pike: "In an attempt to get useful power from atomic fission, we are engaged in the design and construction of a power plant for naval submarines. The design of two practical, though expensive, devices for submarine propulsion is practically complete, and one of them is partly built. It shouldn't be too many years before one or both will be operating in a true submarine."

There were no further details. But earlier in the week, Navy Captain H. G. Rickover reported on the same project at a highly secret meeting of the congressional Joint Committee on Atomic Energy. Senator Brien McMahon, committee chairman, said afterwards that he was "both educated and pleased."

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