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Cold War

Scorpion Disappearance

Thresher Disaster

The 1960s in America

Triton Submarine

by John Alan Ross

The first U.S. submarine to have two nuclear reactors and a three-level hull. Its underwater around-the-world voyage boosted the nation’s prestige during the Cold War.

Origins and History

During World War II, the Soviet Union developed the largest submarine force in the world and sustained this numerical superiority during the early years of the Cold War. The U.S. Navy needed a long-range submarine able to stay submerged for long periods and sustain high speeds underwater. None of the existing methods of propulsion produced adequate speeds until the nuclear-powered USS Triton was launched in 1958. The Triton was the only submarine ever built with two nuclear reactors. It had a surface displacement of 5,940 tons and submerged displacement of 7,780 tons. The 447-foot long ship cost $100 million. Initially, its primary mission was to explore the feasibility of using nuclear submarines to deploy cruise missiles, to operate as a radar picket for aircraft carrier groups, and to serve as an integral member of the early defense warning system against Soviet interballistic missiles.

In 1959, the USS Triton was commissioned with one of the best-known submariners, Captain Edward L. Beach. In 1960, the Triton became the first submarine to circumnavigate the globe while submerged. It traveled 30,708 miles in sixty days and twenty-one hours.

Impact

This history-making voyage served to enhance the nation’s prestige during the Cold War. It also demonstrated the submerged endurance and sustained high-speed capabilities of nuclear submarines. In recognition, the Triton was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, and Captain Beach received the Legion of Merit from President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Subsequent Events

In 1967, the Triton, along with fifty other boats, was designated for deactivation because of defense cutbacks. It was decommissioned in 1969 and scrapped in the 1980’s.

Additional Information

Norman Friedman’s U.S. Submarines Since 1945 is a major reference on nuclear submarines.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
Ross, John Alan. "Triton Submarine." The 1960s in America, edited by Carl Singleton, Salem Press, 1999. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=1960_4030050522.
APA 7th
Ross, J. A. (1999). Triton Submarine. In C. Singleton (Ed.), The 1960s in America. Salem Press. online.salempress.com.
CMOS 17th
Ross, John Alan. "Triton Submarine." Edited by Carl Singleton. The 1960s in America. Hackensack: Salem Press, 1999. Accessed December 14, 2025. online.salempress.com.