Fifty Years Ago Today

[Straightshooter2]

Fifty years ago today, U.S.S. Thresher, SSN-593 began deep diving tests and sent garbled communication to the rescue ship Skylark. The message indicated, "...minor difficulties, have positive up-angle, attempting to blow." Further communication over the underwater phone said "900 N" when asked if they had control. Nothing else was heard from the crew and it slowly became evident that she had sunk with all hands, 129 officers and men. The Navy began notifying next of kin at 6:30pm. The Navy estimates that her hull breached at about 2400 feet and the water ram produced by the hull breach would have traveled through the boat at 4000 mph or in about five milliseconds. She now rests under 8400 feet.


Lord God, our power evermore
Whose arm doth reach the ocean floor
Dive with our men beneath the sea
Traverse the depths protectively
O hear us when we pray, and keep
them safe from peril in the deep
-David B. Miller, 1965

CW

 

[semperfi71]

I remember the story as it ran in the local news and newspapers. It was many years before they located her.

I cannot imagine the horror of being inside a sinking submarine. I can fell great awe for the men, and in today's Navy, the women who served and are serving.