National Affairs: 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....

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