The Boats of NOVEMBER

The early days of nuclear submarine operation and development were fraught with opportunities for success or disaster.

The United States Navy was first to the game with the Nautilus and the Soviets were not far behind. The major difference was the technology and insistence of safety on the American side. Admiral Rickover’s insistence on training and technological safety were rock solid which prevented the US from many catastrophes.

The Soviets started the game from behind and the lessons learned were legendary for their consequences in the submarine community. From design to command structures, the Soviets had a long history of cleaning up after themselves as they learned one powerful truth after another. Most people know the story behind K19 (aka the Widow maker). The movie starring Harrison Ford is a classic example of the flaws in design, structure, engineering and command problems that plagued the Soviets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_submarine_K-19

The NOVEMBER class…