On Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:17:18 +0000, Larry wrote:

(Richard Casady) wrote in
:

It is, or used to be, the practice on submarines.

Naw.....We check on the control rods, now....(c;

Actually the nuke boats have a battery, and, to charge it an engine
half the size of the four in a WWII boat. Something to get the reactor
started after a shutdown. Able to push the boat maybe three knots.
There is a retractable electric motor, maybe 300 horsepower worth.

Casady