Customer Reviews

Submarines: The Nuclear Pioneers

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The Nuclear Pioneers" is a fantastic introduction of the nuclear age into the United States submarine fleet. This DVD takes the viewer into the bowels of nuclear submarine and expands on the reactor and how it works. It also includes excellent segments on the Fleet Ballestic boats explaining it's designed missions.

This is the second in a series of DVD's that were transfered from actual Naval produced film footage. It is very well done and a must have for your submariners collection. This would make an excellent give for the sub sailor in your life. As a former submarine sailor myself, this is yet another DVD from Periscope Film Presents that I'll treasure.

Bob Prater
USS Remora (SS-487)

The Nuclear Pioneers is an outstanding collection of footage from the missions and voyages of the early nuclear submarine fleet of the US Navy. The quality of footage is A+++ and the editing is outstanding. The crewmen on this DVD are all authentic heroes and may have been the last of the pioneers on planet earth. The accomplishments of these crews are well displayed and well narrated. Congratulations to Periscope Films on their fine work.

This DVD was really great! Thanks to Periscope for collecting these old submarine films and keeping them alive. I am so happy they will live into the digital age. As for the DVD itself, it has 5 movies, all made by the US Navy in or about 1950 to 1965, so there is really great authentic nuclear submarine footage. Each movie is about a different part about how Nuclear Submarines became so important in the cold war. I really liked 2 films in particular. First there was a movie about the US Nautilus traveling beneath the North Pole - fantastic. Second, the USS Triton circling the globe underwater, never having to surface - amazing. The best part of the DVD is that the other films were really good too, so I am really happy that I got my monies worth. Sometimes these DVD's can be a little underwhelming, but this company did a great job and far exceeded my expectations. If you like historical films or know somebody who does, I can personally recommend it. I think they have 4 other DVDs, and hopefully they are as good as this one. If they are, they surely have a big hit on their hands and one very happy customer.

"The Nuclear Pioneers" is a real treat. It features five rare films that show some of the most acclaimed silent service feats of the early part of the Cold War, including the Nautilus' daring trip underneath the North Pole. I was intrigued to see films of some events that are rarely mentioned nowadays, such as the Triton's trip around the world submerged (a first) or the launch of a cruise missile off the submarine USS Tunny. The final film on the disc, however, is the real treat. It shows the emergence of the fleet attack submarine after World War II, and has a great deal of footage of the Albacore type boats. This is the type of material you don't ever get to see, and it was a real treat for me -- as a kid I read about all this stuff in National Geographic but never got to "see" it beyond that. Really nifty stuff. My only complaint is I wish it were longer -- it's about 90 minutes -- and that it showed the Skate's trip to the pole as well. Still, well worth the price of admission.

Fascinating documentary on the first nuclear subs. Included some facts I had not heard before. May not be for everyone, but if you're into Navy histroy, this DVD is a must for your library.