Around the World Submerged by Edward L. Beach Read Free Book Online Page B

red-covered book which I took to be a powerplant testing manual of some sort. With a side glance at the Admiral, who showed no sign that he had noticed my appearance, I addressed myself to Kelly. “Les, how much power are you indicating back here?” I asked. I had to shout to be heard above the powerful roar of the engine.
    Kelly put his mouth to my ear and shouted back, “We’ve just gone to a hundred percent power! She’s running like a million bucks! No trouble at all!”
    I decided against asking why I had not been consulted before the speed change was made. No doubt a messenger was off looking for me at that very minute. This was Vice-Admiral Rickover’s plant and his test. My duties, clearly stated for these first trials, were to operate the ship in accordance with his directives. Besides, I, too, wanted to find out what were the actual limitations of our engines.
    Les had something more to say, which he did with a broad smile. “One more thing. That’s no power plant manual the Old Man’s got his nose into. Take a good look at the name on the cover, if you get a chance.”
    Casting a quick glance at Rickover, who appeared still engrossed in the book with the red cover, I decided to get a better look at it soon, nodded my thanks to Kelly, and began a tour of the remaining engineering spaces.
    In number two plant, all was serene. The port engine and reduction gears were spinning away with the greatest aplomb, and every bearing was cool, every critical point reading well within the specified limits.
    Lieutenant Curtis Shellman, Machinery Division Officer and presently in charge of the port engine-room watch, must have been born with the sallow complexion and dark circles under his eyes which made his normal everyday appearance that of a man under severe strain; recently he had had every right to look this way, for the main brunt of getting Triton ’s engines ready for her first engineering trials had fallen upon him. Practically all of the operating machinery of the ship was under hissurveillance, and the toll of many sleepless hours showed in the veritable death’s head smile he gave me by way of salutation. But there was nothing beaten down or tired about the pure and happy sense of accomplishment which showed there too, as he called my attention to the pounds of steam flow per hour, the throttle setting, the steam pressure, and the effortless RPM of the port main shaft.
    Not ordinarily given to use of the superlative, Curt essayed one this time. “She’s just wonderful, Captain!” he yelled. “I’ve never seen an engine run as smoothly as this one. Why, we could take her anywhere, anytime!” His enthusiasm was contagious, and there were corroborating nods from Chief Electrician’s Mates “L” “E” Poe (another old shipmate) and Walter O’Dell, members of the watch section.
    It was not hard to believe. What was difficult to appreciate was that Triton at this moment was driving through the water at a speed which no member of her crew had ever experienced, which we would have dismissed as insane had anyone suggested it but a few years ago, which, had this ship but come a few years sooner, might have won the war in the Pacific for us in a matter of months, instead of the years it took.
    During this time, Admiral Rickover seemed completely engrossed in his book. He rarely looked up, never changed his position, acknowledged with a brief nod Les Kelly’s shouted reports of the progress of the various tests which were being runoff.
    One of the axioms of building a power plant is that all its components must be designed with a large safety factor, for one never knows just which component, or combination of components, will prove to be the weakest element in the chain, and thus limit the power. In the Navy, Admiral Rickover’s nuclear plants were already famous for exceptional dependability. It was soon evident that the Admiral was of a mind to maintain that reputation insofar as Triton ’s two-reactor