USS Triton

USS Triton was a United States Navy submarine that played a significant role in the Cold War, conducting the first submerged circumnavigation of the globe under the command of Edward Beach Jr., who was also a Naval War College graduate and author of several naval history books, including Run Silent, Run Deep. The USS Triton was a nuclear-powered submarine that utilized a pressurized water reactor designed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation and constructed by General Dynamics Electric Boat. The submarine's operations were supported by the United States Naval Base Kitsap and the Naval Submarine Base New London.

● History

The USS Triton was authorized by the United States Congress in 1954, and its construction was a collaborative effort between the United States Navy, General Dynamics Electric Boat, and Westinghouse Electric Corporation, with Hyman G. Rickover playing a crucial role in the development of the submarine's nuclear reactor. The submarine was launched on August 19, 1958, and commissioned on November 10, 1959, with Willard F. Searle Jr. as its first commanding officer, who had previously served on the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) and was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. The USS Triton's history is closely tied to the Cold War and the United States Navy's efforts to counter the Soviet Navy, with the submarine conducting several deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, including operations with the Sixth Fleet and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

● Design and Construction

The USS Triton was designed by the United States Navy's Bureau of Ships and constructed by General Dynamics Electric Boat, with a length of 447 feet (136 meters) and a beam of 37 feet (11 meters), making it one of the largest submarines in the world at the time, comparable to the Soviet Navy's November-class submarine. The submarine was powered by a pressurized water reactor designed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation, which provided a significant increase in power and endurance compared to earlier diesel-electric submarines, such as the Gato-class submarine. The USS Triton's design and construction were influenced by the United States Naval Reactors program, which was established by Hyman G. Rickover to develop and operate nuclear-powered submarines, including the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) and the USS Seawolf (SSN-575).

● Service History

The USS Triton conducted its first deployment in 1960, operating in the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, where it participated in several NATO exercises, including Operation Strikeback, and interacted with other United States Navy ships, such as the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and the USS Independence (CV-62). The submarine's most notable achievement was its completion of the first submerged circumnavigation of the globe in 1960, under the command of Edward Beach Jr., who was also a Naval War College graduate and author of several naval history books, including Run Silent, Run Deep. The USS Triton's service history is closely tied to the Cold War and the United States Navy's efforts to counter the Soviet Navy, with the submarine conducting several deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, including operations with the Sixth Fleet and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

● Commanding Officers

The USS Triton had several commanding officers during its service, including Willard F. Searle Jr., who was its first commanding officer, and Edward Beach Jr., who commanded the submarine during its historic circumnavigation of the globe, and was also a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a Naval War College graduate. Other notable commanding officers of the USS Triton included Frank A. Andrews, who had previously served on the USS Skate (SSN-578) and was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and Charles R. Wilkinson, who had previously served on the USS Seawolf (SSN-575) and was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. The commanding officers of the USS Triton were all experienced submarine commanders who had previously served on other United States Navy submarines, including the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) and the USS Seawolf (SSN-575).

● Legacy

The USS Triton played a significant role in the development of nuclear-powered submarines and the United States Navy's submarine force, with its design and construction influencing the development of later submarines, such as the Los Angeles-class submarine and the Virginia-class submarine. The submarine's historic circumnavigation of the globe in 1960 demonstrated the capabilities of nuclear-powered submarines and marked a significant milestone in the Cold War, with the Soviet Navy responding by developing its own nuclear-powered submarines, including the November-class submarine and the Yankee-class submarine. The USS Triton is now a museum ship and is on display at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon, where it serves as a reminder of the United States Navy's rich history and its contributions to the development of nuclear-powered submarines, including the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) and the USS Seawolf (SSN-575). Category:United States Navy submarines