Nuclear subs and Mystic Seaport

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Geo: 41.3547, -71.9709

The US Navy submarine school (and Coastguard Academy) is located nearby at New London, on the Thames River. The first US nuclear submarine forms the centre-piece of the adjacent Submarine Force Library and Museum, along with many other interesting exhibits.

A little further over is the Mystic River, with the Mystic Seaport maritime museum on its banks. Not the same Mystic River as in the Sean Penn/Tim Robbins movie of that name, which is in Boston.

In the evening we had drinks and dinner at home with Caron and Mark. Tomorrow we head off with them to visit Newport, Rhode Island.

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Photos

USS Nautilus
Nautilus was commissioned in 1954 and retired in 1980. As the first US nuclear sub, it achieved many firsts and records. It was the first sub to pass under the polar ice cap in 1958, which was a big deal in blowing a raspberry at the Russians who were revelling in their Sputnik success. In the museum's section on the Cold War they quoted a rare Stalin speech in 1956 when he said that Communism and Capitalism were basically incompatible, and war in the 1950's was inevitable! That prompted Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech. Scary times: no wonder the arms race took off.

Nautilus bunks
It seemed all wash basins on board could fold up into the wall. We found the personal storage spaces under the bunks to be interesting. It was a worthwhile look around but not all parts of the sub (the reactor, for example) were available to view.

Tight!
The Captain's cabin was larger than we would have thought, but all the other spaces were very snug. Apparently submarine food was/is known to be excellent.

Charles W. Morgan
Built in 1841, this is the last surviving wooden whaling vessel. It is undergoing repairs at the maritime museum where it has been displayed since 1941.

Viking Replica
This replica of a 1,000 year old vessel was sailed over from Norway some time ago. The exhibit was closed for the winter. Hmm..