Contents: (1) Intro. and Issue for Congress; (2) Background: Nuclear and Conventional Power for Ships; Nuclear Power for a Surface Combatant; Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program; Current Navy Nuclear-Powered Ships; CG(X) Cruiser Program; Reactor Plant for a Nuclear-Powered CG(X); Construction Shipyards; Nuclear-Capable Shipyards; Surface Combatant Shipyards; 2006 Navy Alternative Propulsion Study; (3) Potential Issues for Congress: Cost; Development and Design Cost; Procurement Cost; Operational Effectiveness; Ship Construction; Shipyards; Nuclear-Propulsion Component Manufacturers; Environmental Impact; (4) Potential Options for Congress; (5) Legislative Activity for FY 2010. Charts and tables.

Reviews progress of nuclear propulsion research and application of technical developments to naval construction program.

A strong Navy is crucial to the security of the United States, a nation with worldwide interests which conducts the vast majority of its trade via transoceanic shipment. Navy warships are deployed around the world every hour of every day to provide a credible "forward presence," ready to respond on the scene wherever America's interests are threatened. Nuclear propulsion plays an essential role in this, providing the mobility, flexibility, and endurance that today's smaller Navy requires to meet a growing number of missions. About 45 percent of the Navy's major combatants are nuclear-powered: 11 aircraft carriers, 53 attack submarines, and 18 strategic submarines (the Nation's most survivable deterrent) - 4 of which were removed from strategic service and converted to a covert, high-volume, precision strike platform designated as SSGN. The mission of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, also known as Naval Reactors, is to provide militarily effective nuclear propulsion plants and ensure their safe, reliable, and long-lived operation. This mission requires the combination of fully trained U.S. Navy men and women with ships that excel in endurance, stealth, speed, and independence from logistics supply chains. Presidential Executive Order 12344 and Public Laws 98-525 and 106-65 set forth the total responsibility of Naval Reactors for all aspects of the Navy's nuclear propulsion, including research, design, construction, testing, operation, maintenance, and ultimate disposition of naval nuclear propulsion plants. The Program's responsibility includes all related facilities, radiological controls, environmental safety, and health matters, as well as selection, training, and assignment of personnel. All of this work is accomplished by a lean network of dedicated research laboratories, nuclear-capable shipyards, equipment contractors and suppliers, and training facilities that are centrally controlled by a small headquarters staff. The Director, Naval Reactors, is Admiral Kirkland H. Donald; who also serves as a Deputy Administrator in the National Nuclear Security Administration. Naval Reactors maintains an outstanding record of over 145 million miles safely steamed on nuclear power. The Program currently operates 103 reactors and has accumulated over 6,300 reactor-years of operation. A leader in environmental protection, the Program has published annual environmental reports since the 1960s, showing that the Program has not had an adverse effect on human health or on the quality of the environment. Because of the Program's demonstrated reliability, U.S. nuclear-powered warships are welcomed in more than 150 ports of call in over 50 foreign countries and dependencies. Since USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571) first signaled "UNDERWAY ON NUCLEAR POWER" over 50 years ago in 1955, our nuclear-powered ships have demonstrated their superiority in defending the country-from the Cold War, to today's unconventional threats, to advances that will ensure the dominance of American seapower well into the future.

A strong Navy is crucial to the security of the United States, a nation with worldwide interests which conducts the vast majority of its trade via transoceanic shipment. Navy warships are deployed around the world every hour of every day to provide a credible "forward presence," ready to respond on the scene wherever America's interests are threatened. Nuclear propulsion plays an essential role in this, providing the mobility, flexibility, and endurance that today's smaller Navy requires to meet a growing number of missions. About 45 percent of the Navy's major combatants are nuclear-powered: 11 aircraft carriers, 53 attack submarines, and 18 strategic submarines (the Nation's most survivable deterrent) - 4 of which were removed from strategic service and converted to a covert, high-volume, precision strike platform designated as SSGN. The mission of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, also known as Naval Reactors, is to provide militarily effective nuclear propulsion plants and ensure their safe, reliable, and long-lived operation. This mission requires the combination of fully trained U.S. Navy men and women with ships that excel in endurance, stealth, speed, and independence from logistics supply chains. Presidential Executive Order 12344 and Public Laws 98-525 and 106-65 set forth the total responsibility of Naval Reactors for all aspects of the Navy's nuclear propulsion, including research, design, construction, testing, operation, maintenance, and ultimate disposition of naval nuclear propulsion plants. The Program's responsibility includes all related facilities, radiological controls, environmental safety, and health matters, as well as selection, training, and assignment of personnel. All of this work is accomplished by a lean network of dedicated research laboratories, nuclear-capable shipyards, equipment contractors and suppliers, and training facilities that are centrally controlled by a small headquarters staff. The Director, Naval Reactors, is Admiral Kirkland H. Donald; who also serves as a Deputy Administrator in the National Nuclear Security Administration. Naval Reactors maintains an outstanding record of over 145 million miles safely steamed on nuclear power. The Program currently operates 103 reactors and has accumulated over 6,300 reactor-years of operation. A leader in environmental protection, the Program has published annual environmental reports since the 1960s, showing that the Program has not had an adverse effect on human health or on the quality of the environment. Because of the Program's demonstrated reliability, U.S. nuclear-powered warships are welcomed in more than 150 ports of call in over 50 foreign countries and dependencies. Since USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571) first signaled "UNDERWAY ON NUCLEAR POWER" over 50 years ago in 1955, our nuclear-powered ships have demonstrated their superiority in defending the country-from the Cold War, to today's unconventional threats, to advances that will ensure the dominance of American seapower well into the future.

Reviews budget planning and military justification for nuclear powered naval ships and DOD objections to Navy development and construction plans for nuclear powered surface ships. Also reviews nuclear submarine propulsion and electrical generating equipment procurement problems due to expanding commercial markets. Classified material has been deleted. A chronological summary concerning nuclear propulsion for surface warships is contained on p. 177-244. Appendixes are contained on p. 245-497.

Compares U.S. and Soviet submarine fleets and stresses need to continue nuclear submarine propulsion and operation program to balance Soviet submarine production.

Discover the fascinating stories and history of the U.S. Navy nuclear program. With five official histories and reports, this unique compilation provides a stunning, richly detailed overview of all aspects of this amazing story. Contents: Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program * Nuclear Navy 1946-1962 * Excerpt: Rearming for the Cold War 1945-1960 * Naval Reactors Overview - Naval Spent Nuclear Fuel Management * Excerpt from the Complete Guide to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program - This is a comprehensive, up-to-date survey of the U.S. Navy's nuclear propulsion program. Navy warships are deployed around the world every hour of every day to provide a credible "forward presence," ready to respond on the scene wherever America's interests are threatened. Nuclear propulsion plays an essential role in this, providing the mobility, flexibility, and endurance that today's smaller Navy requires to meet a growing number of missions. About 45 percent of the Navy's major combatants are nuclear-powered: 11 aircraft carriers, 53 attack submarines, and 18 strategic submarines (the Nation's most survivable deterrent) -- 4 of which were removed from strategic service and converted to a covert, high-volume, precision strike platform designated as SSGN. Advantages of Naval Nuclear Power * Today's Mission * Nuclear-Powered Submarines * Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carriers * What is the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program? * Research, Development, and Support Laboratories * Nuclear Component Procurement Organization * Nuclear Equipment Suppliers * Shipyards * Support Facilities and Tenders * Schools and Training Facilities * Headquarters * Establishment of the Program . * Technical and Management Philosophy * The Training Program. * What it Means to be a Sailor in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program * Description of a Typical Naval Nuclear Propulsion Plant * Protection of People * Concern for the Environment * Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program Emergency Preparedness * Naval Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation Exercises * Partnership with State and Local Officials * Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program Accomplishments * Appendix * The First Naval Nuclear Propulsion Plants * Classes of Nuclear-Powered Ships. * Operations * Special Projects * Program Locations * Program Directors -- Past and Present * Program StatisticsNuclear Navy 1946-1962 - This official AEC-sponsored history of the Naval nuclear propulsion program provides an authoritative account of the historic effort to develop the first atomic powered submarines and carriers under the celebrated leadership of Hyman Rickover. Rickover, Nautilus, Admiral Nimitz, President Eisenhower, Walter Zinn, Argonned National Laboratory, Atomic Energy Commission, Bureau of Ships, Nuclear Submarines, Ross Gunn, Naval Research Laboratory, Rear Admiral Mills, General Electric, Babcock and Wilcox, Oak Ridge, Project Genie, Clinton Laboratories, Project Wizard, Reactors (gas cooled, water cooled, liquid metal cooled), Westinghouse, Atomic Power Laboratory, Code 390, Guppy, Tang class, Electric boat, Portsmouth, Mark I and II, Mark A and B, Aircraft Carrier, Atoms for Peace, Shippingport Atomic Power Station, Skipjack, S5W Reactor, Thresher, Polaris, Enterprise Carrier. This history emphasizes the critical role played by individual personalities in the execution of a highly sophisticated, impersonal technological program within a large and sometimes impersonal bureaucracy. Nuclear Navy 1946-1962 * Control of the Sea * The Idea and the Challenge * The Question of Leadership * Structure of Responsibility * Emerging Patterns of Technical Management * Prototypes and Submarines * Toward a Nuclear Fleet * Nuclear Power Beyond the Navy * Propulsion for the Fleet * Building the Nuclear Fleet * Fleet Operation and Maintenance * The Measure of Accomplishment