Introduced in 1962, Remco’s Barracuda Motorized Atomic Sub allowed children to imagine underwater adventures without needing water.
The “play anywhere” toy ran on four D-batteries and stood 37 inches long. The sub was put in motion by turning the pericope, moving over flat surfaces via a set of concealed wheels built into its hull. Returning the periscope to its original position stopped the forward movement.
Topside, the Barracuda had a 24 crew complement of 4 officers, 4 frogmen, and 16 enlisted men. The sub’s props turned and included a nuclear reactor signal that flashes red. Remco equipped the Barracuda with an ordnance consisting of 4 torpedoes, 4 automatic-fire Polaris missiles, and a frogman’s raft.
A Battle Station alarm emitted a warning chime when activated. Kids could also turn off the alarm to allow for silent running in enemy territory.
A clear plastic canopy acted as a transparent cover, providing a glimpse into the internal layout of the sub. Unfortunately, the canopy was prone to warping, making it challenging to find a well-preserved version of the toy without this defect.
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