15. IF THE REACTOR STOPPED WORKING AT SEA, HOW WOULD A NUCLEAR SUBMARINE GET BACK TO BASE ?
If an emergency ever happened which required the nuclear reactor to be shut down whilst at sea, there is an emergency generator which can generate sufficient power to drive the propeller via motor to the gearbox.
If the propeller became damaged, the submarine has a tiny secondary propulsion motor (often called the 'egg whisk') located in the hull casing under the submarine. This electric motor with small propeller attached can be extended into the sea from its stowage point and, driven by electricity from the submarine's batteries, can propel the submarine very slowly towards safety.
