ATOMIC SUB SINKS WITH TOTAL LOSS OF CREW
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 10, 1963, the United States Navy reported USS Thresher*, an atomic submarine, had sunk in the Atlantic Ocean. The sub
was unable to resurface during a training mission 220 miles East of Boston, Massachusetts.The crew of 129 including officers, sailors and civilians perished.
Launched in 1960, USS Thresher was the first of a new class of atomic submarines which were quieter and could reach greater depths than previous atomic subs.
President John F. Kennedy ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims who, according to a later investigative report, lost their lives. There are multiple theories on what caused the mishap.
The United States Navy took corrective actions to prevent future such tragedies by initiating the SUBSAFE program.
*USS Thresher (SSN-593) was built at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine & launched on July 9, 1960. Her loss marked the 2nd deadliest incident involving an atomic submarine on record.
USS Thresher, April 1961
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 10, 1963, the United States Navy reported USS Thresher*, an atomic submarine, had sunk in the Atlantic Ocean. The sub
was unable to resurface during a training mission 220 miles East of Boston, Massachusetts.The crew of 129 including officers, sailors and civilians perished.
Launched in 1960, USS Thresher was the first of a new class of atomic submarines which were quieter and could reach greater depths than previous atomic subs.
President John F. Kennedy ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims who, according to a later investigative report, lost their lives. There are multiple theories on what caused the mishap.
The United States Navy took corrective actions to prevent future such tragedies by initiating the SUBSAFE program.
*USS Thresher (SSN-593) was built at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine & launched on July 9, 1960. Her loss marked the 2nd deadliest incident involving an atomic submarine on record.
USS Thresher, April 1961
