USS Albacore
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The USS Albacore was an experimental United States submarine used in the early years of the Cold War by the US Navy as they tested equipment and design. The Albacore's teardrop-shaped hull was novel at the time and offered better speed and efficiency underwater. This innovation, along with several propeller tests and other experiements led to many of the modern submarines. Many of the details behind the creation and operation of the USS Albacore are still classified. The sub was launched in 1953 and retired by the Navy in 1972. The submarine was in storage for over a decade before it became available for public tours starting in 1986 thanks to the efforts of the Portsmouth Submarine Memorial Association. Moving the submarine required herculean efforts, especially after the submarine became stuck in deep mud following the Albacore's derailment from a special temporary railroad that had been built just to move the vessel. Today, visitors can explore this research and test submarine that was part of the Cold War arms race with the Soviet Union.
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