Admiral Hyman Rickover is without doubt one of the greatest men who ever led the United States Navy. During the Cold War era, he singlehandedly ensured that the nuclear submarine service was second-to-none. Rickover, a fastidious taskmaster, shaped the modern Navy into the greatest maritime fighting forces in history. 

While Rickover was known as a tough leader of men, he had a playful and imaginative side to him as well. This came out in one of his pet projects, a submarine designated as NR-1—but known as “Nerwin” to its crew.

Launched in 1969, NR-1 was the smallest nuclear-powered submarine ever operated by the Navy. The minisub was designed not for combat, but for covert deep-sea research, recovery, and espionage missions. NR-1 operated as Admiral Rickover’s secret pet project for nearly 40 years, blending cutting-edge technology with a rugged, utilitarian design. This little submarine that could would go on to forge quite a service record for itself. 

The loss of the USS Thresher in 1963, which sank with all 129 crewmembers, underscored the Navy’s need for advanced deep-sea recovery and investigative capabilities. Admiral Rickover, a visionary in nuclear propulsion, seized the opportunity to propose a small, nuclear-powered submersible capable of operating at extreme depths.

Approved on April 18, 1965, NR-1 was constructed by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in Groton, Conn., with construction initiating on June 10, 1967. NR-1 was ultimately launched January 25, 1969, and completed her sea trials on August 19, 1969.

What set the submarine apart was its unconventional status. The submarine was never officially commissioned or named; it remained designated “NR-1” (Navy Reactors-1) for its entire service life. Its name was a silent nod to Admiral Rickover’s Naval Reactors branch of the Navy. This designation allowed Rickover to bypass Congressional oversight and the Navy’s warship allocation limits, maintaining tight control—something he........

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