Boyes, John Polaris

Submarines, Missiles, the US Navy and the Royal Navy

The atomic bombings of Japan at the end of World War II opened the door to the atomic age. Captain Hyman Rickover recognised the potential of nuclear energy for the US Navy and initiated a research programme that eventually led to the commissioning of the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. Meanwhile, ballistic missile technology was developing rapidly, but still relied on complex liquid fuels. The US Navy teamed up with the Army to develop a ballistic missile for both services, but withdrew when solid fuels became a viable solution. Under the leadership of Rear Admiral William Raborn, the US Navy launched its own project: the Polaris weapon system. In 1960, the first missile-armed nuclear-powered submarine went on patrol, with forty more following in the years that followed. Two years later, when the British plans for Blue Streak and Skybolt were abandoned, Harold Macmillan and John F. Kennedy agreed to supply Polaris to the Royal Navy. At a time when the NATO alliance, the special relationship between Britain and the United States, and Britain's role as a nuclear power are being intensely questioned, this is the first comprehensive history of Polaris. It brings together technical aspects, key personalities, and the complete stories of the American and British programmes.