The film shows the nuclear submarine USS NATHANAEL GREENE, the escort destroyer, USS HUGH PURVIS and the Soviet Trawler. It also shows the actual firing of the Poseidon missile.




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Background: The 40th Poseidon missile was successfully launched yesterday at the U.S. Air Force Eastern Test Range. Fired from the USS NATHANAEL GREENE, it was the first launching form a submarine on the surface.

The shot took place approximately six miles off the coast of Florida, near Cape Kennedy.

The GREENE is the ninth submarine to launch a Poseidon on test and training missions at Cape Kennedy. It is one of the 31 nuclear submarines being converted from the Polaris to the Poseidon missile system.

There was a Russian trawler, of the Samara class, in the area during the launch. The nearest the trawler got to the submarine was 4-5 miles, and was about nine miles east of the submarine at the time of launch.

This is the first film of a Poseidon launch shot from aboard a helicopter.