This submarine’s mission sets were diverse and secretive, blending scientific research with covert military activities.
Admiral Hyman Rickover is without doubt one of the greatest men who ever led the United States Navy. During the Cold War era, he singlehandedly ensured that the nuclear submarine service was second-to-none. Rickover, a fastidious taskmaster, shaped the modern Navy into the greatest maritime fighting forces in history.
While Rickover was known as a tough leader of men, he had a playful and imaginative side to him as well. This came out in one of his pet projects, a submarine designated as NR-1—but known as “Nerwin” to its crew.
The NR-1 “Nerwin” Submarine’s History
Launched in 1969, NR-1 was the smallest nuclear-powered submarine ever operated by the Navy. The minisub was designed not for combat, but for covert deep-sea research, recovery, and espionage missions. NR-1 operated as Admiral Rickover’s secret pet project for nearly 40 years, blending cutting-edge technology with a rugged, utilitarian design. This little submarine that could would go on to forge quite a service record for itself.
The loss of the USS Thresher in 1963, which sank with all 129 crewmembers, underscored the Navy’s need for advanced deep-sea recovery and investigative capabilities. Admiral Rickover, a visionary in nuclear propulsion, seized the opportunity to propose a small, nuclear-powered submersible capable of operating at extreme depths.
Approved on April 18, 1965, NR-1 was constructed by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in Groton, Conn., with construction initiating on June 10, 1967. NR-1 was ultimately launched January 25, 1969, and completed her sea trials on August 19, 1969.
What set the submarine apart was its unconventional status. The submarine was never officially commissioned or named; it remained designated “NR-1” (Navy Reactors-1) for its entire service life. Its name was a silent nod to Admiral Rickover’s Naval Reactors branch of the Navy. This designation allowed Rickover to bypass Congressional oversight and the Navy’s warship allocation limits, maintaining tight control—something he loved—over the project.
NR-1 was tiny, with a total displacement of just 400 tons. She was a fraction the size of traditional American nuclear-powered submarines. Her compact nuclear reactor provided near-unlimited endurance, too.
NR-1’s Capabilities and Design
NR-1’s design was tailored specifically for deep-sea operations. The submarine featured retractable bottoming wheels, allowing it to “drive” along the ocean floor, and three four-inch viewports for direct observation. Equipped with 19 gas discharge lights, eight 1,000-watt and two 500-watt incandescent lights, and 16 low-light TV antennas, NR-1 could illuminate and document the seabed in vivid detail. A hydraulic manipulator arm, capable of lifting up to a ton, along with a recovery claw and work basket, enabled the submarine to retrieve objects from the ocean floor.
NR-1’s sophisticated sonar, navigational systems, and four ducted thrusters allowed precise maneuvering at depths of up to 2,375 feet—far deeper than most fleet submarines could dive. Its small size came at a cost: the crew of 10-13 lived in very cramped conditions, with no kitchen or showers, relying on frozen meals and weekly bucket baths. To call it a spartan existence was being kind.
But NR-1’s mission wasn’t about crew comfort. It was about performing nearly impossible tasks in an equally inhospitable environment at the height of the Cold War.
The submarine’s slow operational speed—4.5 knots (5.18 miles hour) when surfaced and 3.5 knots (4.03 mph) when submerged—meant that she had to be towed to her mission sites.
Maintaining the submarine was another complex matter.
As a one-of-a-kind boat, NR-1 had no stockpile of spare parts, requiring crewmembers to overhaul or custom-build components. This was particularly taxing in port, where the small crew faced exhausting repair work.
In spite of these hardships, though, the crew reportedly loved serving onboard this submarine. Indeed, the tight quarters and rough living below the surface—coupled with her intensity, covert missions—meant that each crew that manned the submarine became close-knit.
Life aboard NR-1 was grueling for her crew. The submarine’s small size meant tight quarters, with only four bunks for a crew of 13. The lack of basic amenities—no kitchen, no showers, and often clogged toilets—tested the endurance of its elite crew, who were handpicked from the Navy’s nuclear power school. Crewmembers burned chlorate candles for oxygen and ate microwaveable meals, enduring missions that could last up to 23 days. And because of its small size, the submarine often got turned about in ocean currents, meaning seasickness was a constant issue.
This submarine’s mission sets were diverse and secretive, blending scientific research with covert military activities. Its nuclear propulsion and ability to remain submerged for up to a month made it ideal for extended deep-sea operations. While many of its missions remain classified to this day, several declassified operations highlight its versatility—and its popularity among the Navy’s highest authorities who knew of her existence and capabilities.
A Look at NR-1’s Unique Mission Set
For instance, in 1976, NR-1 recovered parts of a sunken Grumman F-14 Tomcat, including an AIM 54A Phoenix missile, which had fallen from the deck of the USS John F. Kennedy during a NATO exercise. This mission demonstrated the submarine’s precision in locating and retrieving sensitive military hardware from 1,960 feet of water.
In 1986, this sub played a pivotal role in the tragic Challenger space shuttle disaster. Tasked with searching for and retrieving critical components of the doomed spacecraft, NR-1’s ability to remain on the seabed for extended periods and map the ocean floor with high accuracy proved invaluable. Its bottoming wheels and manipulator arm allowed the submarine to navigate and recover debris in challenging conditions, contributing to the investigation of the NASA disaster.
Relatedly, NR-1 supported many scientific endeavors during its time. In 1995, oceanographer Robert Ballard used this submarine and its support ship, MV Carolyn Chouest, to explore the wreck of the HMHS Britannic, the sister ship of the RMS Titanic, off the coast of Greece. The submarine’s cameras and lighting systems provided detailed imagery of the wreck, advancing maritime archaeology.
In 2007, NR-1 surveyed the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico, mapping undersea features and collecting data for environmental research.
Perhaps most intriguingly, NR-1 was involved in multiple espionage missions at the height of the Cold War. Its small size and deep-diving capabilities made it ideal for such covert actions. Missions, like tapping Soviet underwater communications cables.
While most of the details of these missions remain classified, reports suggest NR-1 conducted missions to recover Soviet military hardware and gather intelligence, contributing to US strategic advantages. The submarine’s iconic orange-red paint scheme—used for its “research” cover story—was reportedly swapped for black during these clandestine operations.
NR-1: An American Legend
After 39 years of excellent service, NR-1 was deactivated on November 21, 2008 at her homeport in Groton, Conn. It was defueled at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, and sent to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., where it was scrapped in 2009. Parts of the submarine, however, including the control room, were preserved for display at the Submarine Force Library and Museum in Groton.
NR-1 bolstered America’s national defense during the Cold War and furthered great scientific discoveries in the arenas of oceanography and archaeology. There will never be another submarine quite like it.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
