Underwater Promise

Up the Thames River to the New London (Conn.) naval base last week purred the black nuclear submarines Seawolf and Skate, home from record-breaking underwater trips. Seawolf, with 100 men aboard, had covered 10,200 miles submerged, stayed below one long stretch of 30 days, 5 minutes. Skate, with 95 men aboard, had gone 8,727 miles under water, beat Seawolf in an informal competition by staying down 31 days, 5 hours, 30 minutes. Throughout, Seawolf and Skate performed their secret missions in such a routine way that they won a "well done" from Chief of Naval Operations Arleigh Burke. Said Burke, in reference to the fact that the picked crews weathered the sealed-up, shut-in duty with no difficulties: "Space-life existence under actual working conditions was proved a reality."

Even as Seawolf and Skate settled into their berths they were surrounded by signs of the Navy's growing nuclear potential. At the General Dynamics Electric Boat Division, the Navy launched Skipjack, the U.S.'s fifth nuclear submarine, a $60 million model with a special shark shape designed for high-speed underwater maneuverability. Abuilding on the ways was Triton, a giant-sized double-reactor, radar-picket submarine, biggest submarine ever built. Beyond that the Navy last week laid the keel of its third nuclear submarine designed specifically for mating in 1959-60 to the much-talked-about Polaris solid-charge missile (TIME, March 3).

Meanwhile, at week's end, the House Appropriations Committee recommended funds for six additional Polaris subs--making nine altogether--instead of the Administration's request for two more. And Admiral Burke coolly announced the formation, effective July 1, of the Navy's first Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine Squadron, with operational headquarters in New London and staff headquarters in Washington to press Polaris subs and to "develop operational plans for use."

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