The Nuclear Navy Jack, first flown on the USS Constitution in the American Revolutionary War, featured the battle cry of the nuclear operators on board: “DON’T SCRAM ON ME!”

These first nukes of the late 1700s faced unimaginable hardships from the Constitution’s temperamental reactor. Without the benefit of interlocks, operators had to exercise much more caution during battles against the British navy. One wrong pump start could cause a catastrophic reactivity addition casualty that would surely doom the Constitution and her crew. Yet, undaunted, these sailors bravely took to sea to fight for our independence.

Following the war, the unwieldy reactor, while instrumental in the Navy’s victories, proved to be too dangerous to operate in the peacetime environment. Therefore, the reactor was decommissioned and removed from service, and the Constitution reverted to the sail powered propulsion method we still see on her today. Nuclear power would not be attempted on a ship at sea again until Hyman G. Rickover reintroduced the idea, and launched the USS Nautilus in 1954.

Features Velcro hook only backing, and measures 4” x 2.25”. Historical inaccuracy included. This is a morale patch. Wear at your own peril.