UK Nuclear Submarine efforts 1946 - 1974

Overview: The success of the US nuclear submarine efforts in the early 1950's led the UK Admiralty in 1954 to commit resources to nuclear propulsion and the Naval Section at Harwell under Captain (E) Harrison-Smith. The section was tasked with the design of a complete nuclear propulsion plant prototype. At that time, this effort was completely independent of US efforts with no knowledge from the US except for the timelines that the US required to achieve Nautilus. Rolls Royce was involved from the beginning of this effort with a team from Rolls Royce joining the Naval Section in Harwell while a small design team worked within the company.

In January 1956, the Secretary of the Admiralty wrote the UK Atomic Energy Authority identifying the intent to Vickers-Armstrong for the submarine project, as well as Rolls Royce & Foster-Wheller to design a pressurized-water reactor (PWR) of about 80 megawatts. The UK-AEA was asked to provide facilities and technical support for the endeavor. Target dates of prototype trials in 1959 and a first submarine trials in 1962. While an agreement between the Admiralty and the UK-AEA was not reached until February 1957, the organizations collaborated in the meantime.

Collaboration with the US was hampered by the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954 as assistance to even friendly nations was limited and there was no provision for transfer of nuclear fuel/reactors.

In August 1956, Rickover visited the UK and met with Mountbatten, who found Rickover as ready to help to the degree permitted. Initial limited information exchange began in May 1957 during a followup Rickover visit which covered submarine PWR information. In June 1957, the 19 members from the UK visited the Nautilus prototype test site, Electric Boat, KAPL, and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for a total 2 1/2 week visit. (detailed accounts are provided in reference (1)).

In January 1958, Rickover made his 3rd visit to the UK and Rickover made clear that he viewed exchanges needed to be Government to Government vice industry facility to industry facility. This became a significant sticking point until in Rickover and Mountbatten met and Rickover asked "whether the British wanted to satisfy its pride or whether it desired to build a nuclear submarine as quickly as possible". Mountbatten replied that he wanted as quickly as possible and the deal was done in 5 minutes. That deal was for the British to acquire a ready-made nuclear propulsion plant from the US. In February 1958, the UK Treasury approved the deal at a cost of 8 million British pounds.

One contentious issue in January 1958, was whether the UK would get the Skate plant (2-shaft plant that was tried and tested) or Skipjack (newer 1-shaft plant that was more powerful and unproven though the US planned to use it for their Polaris submarines). The UK settled on wanting the Skipjack design and after some heated negotiations the US agreed.

Back in the US, efforts were underway in January 1958 to amend the 1954 Atomic Energy Act to support these transactions and President Eisenhower signed the supporting changes in July 1958 and supported providing cores for the Dreadnought reactor plant until 1968.