Scorpion (SSN-589)

Scorpion (SSN-589) was a *Skipjack*-class nuclear submarine of the United States Navy, and the sixth vessel of the U.S. Navy to bear that name. Commissioned in 1960, she was one of the fastest attack submarines in the world during her service. Her loss with all 99 crewmen in May 1968 remains one of the most enduring mysteries of the Cold War.

Design and construction

*Scorpion* was the sixth and final unit of the revolutionary *Skipjack* class, which introduced the teardrop-shaped hull and single propeller design that became standard for subsequent American submarines. Her construction was authorized by the United States Congress and she was built at the General Dynamics Electric Boat yard in Groton, Connecticut. The class was powered by the S5W reactor plant, a design that proved exceptionally reliable and was used on many later classes. Her advanced design allowed for remarkable submerged speed and maneuverability, making her a key asset for the United States Atlantic Fleet.

Operational history

Following her commissioning ceremony, which was attended by prominent naval officials, *Scorpion* was assigned to Submarine Squadron 6 and operated out of Norfolk, Virginia. Throughout the early 1960s, she participated in numerous NATO exercises and conducted vital intelligence collection missions against the Soviet Navy. In early 1968, she completed a lengthy deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, where she operated under the command of the United States Sixth Fleet. Her final orders were to return to her homeport after conducting a surveillance patrol near the Azores.

Loss and sinking

On 21 May 1968, *Scorpion* was proceeding westward across the Atlantic Ocean when she transmitted a routine position report. She was never heard from again. After she failed to arrive at Norfolk Naval Shipyard on 27 May, the Chief of Naval Operations ordered an extensive search. A naval court of inquiry later determined the submarine was lost with all hands on 22 May, approximately 400 miles southwest of the Azores. The exact cause of her sinking was not determined at the time, leading to widespread speculation and concern within the United States Department of Defense.

Aftermath and investigations

The loss of *Scorpion*, following the disappearance of USS *Thresher* (SSN-593) five years earlier, sent shockwaves through the United States Navy and prompted major safety reviews. The initial investigation, led by Vice Admiral Bernard L. Austin, could not conclusively identify a cause. In subsequent years, theories ranged from mechanical failure of a torpedo to a catastrophic implosion of the hull. The incident occurred during a period of intense confrontation with the Soviet Union, including the seizure of USS *Pueblo* (AGER-2) and the Vietnam War, fueling theories of hostile action, though no evidence supported this.

Wreck discovery

In October 1968, the oceanographic research ship USNS *Mizar* (T-AGOR-11) located the wreckage of *Scorpion* using a deep-tow camera sled. The debris field was found on the seafloor of the Atlantic Ocean at a depth of about 9,800 feet, near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. A 1970 survey by the bathyscaphe Trieste II provided detailed photographs. Analysis of the wreckage by the Naval Sea Systems Command suggested a catastrophic event originating near the submarine's engine room. Further studies, including one led by Dr. John P. Craven, have pointed to the possibility of a battery explosion or torpedo malfunction, but a definitive cause remains officially undetermined.

Category:Skipjack-class submarines Category:Shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean Category:Maritime incidents in 1968