Without wartime information sharing, compact naval reactors and the chemistry needed to operate them safely arrive later than they did historically. The first practical naval installation would probably be an aircraft carrier rather than a submarine. A nuclear carrier can devote much more internal volume to aviation fuel, improving the reach and persistence of its air group even if diesel generators remain aboard. Very large cruisers are another plausible early application because they can absorb the plant's size and cost. Nuclear submarines follow only after engineers learn to make the machinery compact, reliable, and supportable at sea.
Notable Point · 1:48:48-1:52:09
Nuclear propulsion begins with carriers rather than submarines
Delayed reactor technology favors very large surface ships first, where removing propulsion fuel creates immediate aviation and endurance benefits.