How many Polaris missiles did the U.S.'s first atomic powered submarine carry?

houston1127

Zero. The first atomic powered submarine was the USS Nautilus (SSN-571). She was armed with 6 torpedo tubes. The Polaris missle was a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). A SLBM requires a launch system diffent than that of a regular torpedo tube. Thus Nautilus was unable to launch, and therefore did not carry, the Polaris missle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nautilus_(SSN-571) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polaris_missile Aug 14 11, 10:10 PM

Cryppie

The USS George Washington (SSBN-598) was the first USN SSBN. She carried 16 POLARIS missiles. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g4/george_washington-iii.htm Aug 15 11, 7:07 PM

houston1127

Here's some footage from Universal News about Polaris Missile testing from the USS George Washington ('59 or '60, I believe): http://www.archive.org/details/CEP00102 Aug 15 11, 8:45 PM