USS Scorpion (SSN-589) Comes alongside USS Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, 10 April 1968.

On this date (22nd May) in 1968, the United States Navy lost a submarine:

The USS Scorpion (SS-589) was the third of six Skipjack-class nuclear powered fast attack submarines that were built for the United States Navy between 1956 and 1961.

The Skipjack-class design was based on the USS Albacore (AGSS-569), a unique experimental diesel-electric powered that pioneered the use of the 'teardrop' hull-shape in modern US submarines. The teardrop hull is a design for better submarine performance while submerged over surface performance. It was often used early on in submarine development, but was dropped early in the 20th century in favour of hull designs that would optimize surface performance over submerged. The Skipjacks were also the first submarines installed with the new S5W reactor. They were the fastest U.S. nuclear submarines and remained so until the USS Los Angeles entered service in 1974.

Career:

The keel for USS Scorpion SSN-589 was laid down by the 'General Dynamics Electric Boat Co' at Groton, Connecticut on August 20th 1958. She was launched on December 19th the following year, sponsored by Mrs. Elizabeth S. Morrison, the daughter of Lt. Cdr. Maximilian Gmelich Schmidt. Schmidt was commander of the previous USS Scorpion (SS-278) when that submarine was lost with all hands in 1944.

USS Scorpion (SSN-589) was commissioned July 29th 1960, with Commander Norman B. Bessac in command, and was to spend her relatively short career as part of Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 6, based at Norfolk Virginia.

On February 1st 1967, Scorpion entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for refuelling and then for a much needed complete overhaul. Cold War pressures were pushing US submarines to their limits, and constant service had taken it's toll on the submarine. Systems had began to break down, there were frequent serious oil leaks in the machinery, and sea water seeped in from the propeller shaft seal. The submarine was experiencing serious vibration, and her operational depth was limited to 300 ft. The constant mechanical problems led the crew to nickname their boat the 'Scrapiron'.

Cold War pressures also required Scorpion to be back in service as soon as possible, and to achieve this her overhaul was much reduced, and long-overdue 'SUBSAFE' work, such as a new central valve control system, was deffered. Critically, the Emergency 'Main Ballast Tank Blow' system which had been 'unusable' was deemed to be working as-is by Charleston shipyard. Basically Scorpion underwent emergency repairs Because of the incomleted work it was decided to limit her operational depth to 500 ft. In late October 1967, Scorpion started refresher training and weapons system acceptance tests, and was given a new commanding officer 'Commander Francis Slattery'.

Loss:

On February 15th 1968, USS Scorpion (SSN-589) departed Norfolk, Virgina for a three month deployment to take part in NATO exercises with the U.S. 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean. During the deployment, the submarine suffered several mechanical malfunctions, including a chronic problem with Freon leakage from refrigeration systems. There was also an electrical fire in an escape trunk caused by a water leak shorting out a shore power connection. While the crew occasionally enjoyed liberty in Italy, Sicily, and Spain, they also worked tirelessly to keep their boat operational until their return to Norfolk at the end of May.

On May 16th, Scorpion dropped two men off at Naval Station Rota in Spain (RM2 Eric Reid for a family emergency , and ICS Joseph Underwood for health reasons) before beginning the journey home. On route Scorpion was detailed to observe Soviet naval activities in the vicinity of the Azores, where an Echo II-class submarine, and a guided missile destroyer were operating with a Soviet 'research group'.

Shortly before midnight on May 20th, Scorpion attempted to send radio communications to Naval Station Rota, but the messages were only picked up by a Navy communications station in Nea Makri, Greece, who forwarded the messages to Commander Submarine Force Atlantic (COMSUBLANT). Commander Slattery's last message reported that he was closing on the Soviet submarine and research group, running at a steady 15 kn at a depth of 110 m to begin surveillance. Nothing more was ever heard from Scorpion.

On May 27th, families eagerly waited at Pier 2, Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia where Scorpion was due in at 13.00, but the submarine failed to arrive. The submarine's failure to break radio silence by late morning was already causing concern among SUBRON-6 officials. Repeated transmissions of Scorpion’s call sign "Brandywine" went unanswered. Eventually the worried families of Scorpion's crew had to go home not knowing what had happened to their loved ones. The subsequent search for the missing submarine was fruitless, and on June 5th, the U.S.Navy declared that Scorpion and her crew was "presumed lost".

Weck:

The wreck of USS Scorpion was found in late October 1968 by the Navy's oceanographic research ship 'Mizar', approximately 400 nmi SW of the Azores, at a depth of more than 9,800 ft. This was after the area of search was narrowed down, following the release of recordings of the submarine's destruction picked up by underwater hydrophones.

Other vessels were dispatched to the scene to collect photographs and other data, including the bathyscaphe Trieste II. Analysis of the sound recordings, and the photographs of the wreckage leave no doubt that Scorpion's destruction was caused by the submarine imploding under massive pressure as she passed her crush depth, but the cause of her sinking still remains a mystery.

Roll of honour:

Keith Alexander Martin Allen - Fire Control Technician 2nd Class

Thomas Edward Amtower - Interior Communication Technician 2nd Class

George Gile Annable - Machinist's Mate 2nd Class

Joseph Anthony Baar, Jr. - Fireman

Michael Jon Bailey - Radioman 2nd Class

Walter William Bishop - Chief Torpedoman - Chief of the Boat

Michael Reid Blake - Interior Communication Electrician 3rd Class

Robert Harold Blocker - Machinist's Mate 1st class

Kenneth Ray Brocker - Machinist's Mate 2nd Class

James Kenneth Brueggeman - Machinist's Mate 1st Class

Robert Eugene Bryan - Chief Machinist's Mate

John Patrick Burke - Lieutenant

Daniel Paul Burns Jr. - Radioman

Ronald Lee Byers - Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class

Duglas Leroy Campbell - Machinist's Mate 2nd Class

Samuel J. Cardullo - Machinist's Mate 2nd Class

Francis King Carey II - Machinist's Mate 2nd Class

Gary James Carpenter - Seaman

Robert Lee Chandler - Machinist's Mate 1st Class

Mark Helton Christiansen - Machinist's Mate 2nd Class

Romeo S. Constantino - Steward 1st Class

Robert James Cowan - Machinist's Mate 1st Class

Joseph Cross - Steward - 1st class - (Bronze Star with combat V)

Garlin Ray Denney - Chief Radioman

Michael Edward Dunn - Fireman

Richard Philip Engelhart - Electronics Technician Radar 2nd Class

George Patrick Farrin - Lieutenant

William Ralph Fennick - Seaman

Robert Walter Flesch - Lieutenant

Vernon Mark Foli - Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class

James Walter Forrester Jr. - Lieutenant Junior Grade

Ronald Anthony Frank - Seaman

Michael David Gibson - Commissaryman Seaman

Steven Dean Gleason - Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class

William Clarke Harwi - Lieutenant

Michael Edward Henry - Sonar Technician 2nd Class

Larry Leroy Hess - Storekeeper 2nd Class

Richard Curtis Hogeland - Electronics Technician 1st Class

John Richard Houge - Machinist's Mate 1st Class

Ralph Robert Huber - Electrician's Mate 2nd Class

Harry David Huckelberry - Torpedoman 2nd Class (SS)

John Frank Johnson - Electrician's Mate 3rd Class

Robert Johnson - Senior Chief Radioman

Steven Leroy Johnson - Interior Communications Electrician

Julius Johnston III - Quartermaster 2nd Class

Patrick Charles Kahanek - Fireman

Donald Terry Karmasek Sr. - Torpedoman 2nd Class

Richard Allen Kerntke Sr. - Chief Machinist's Mate

Rodney Joseph Kipp - Electronics Technician 3rd Class

Dennis Charles Knapp - Machinist's Mate 3rd Class

Charles Lee Lamberth - Lieutenant

Max Franklin Lanier - Machinist's Mate 1st Class

John Weichert Livingston - Electronics Technician 1st Class

David Bennett Lloyd - Lieutenant Commander (XO)

Kenneth Robert Martin - Electronics Technician 2nd Class

Frank Patsy Mazzuchi - Senior Chief Quartermaster

Michael Lee McGuire - Electronics Technician 1st Class

Steven Charles Miksad - Torpedoman's Mate 3rd Class

Joseph Francis Miller Jr. - Torpedoman's Mate 3rd Class

Cecil Frederick Mobley - Machinist's Mate 2nd Class

Raymond Dale Morrison - Quartermaster 1st Class

Michael Anthony Odening - Lieutenant Junior Grade

Daniel Christopher Petersen - Chief Electrician's Mate

Dennis Paul Pferrer - Quartermaster 3rd Class

Gerald Stanley Pospisil - Electrician's Mate 3rd Class

Donald Richard Powell - Interior Communications 3rd Class

Earl Lester Ray Jr. - Machinist's Mate 1st Class

Jorge Luis Santana - Commissaryman 1st Class

Lynn Thompson Saville - Chief Hospital Corpsman

Richard George Schaffer - Electronics Technician 2nd Class

William Newman Schoonover - Seaman

Phillip Allan Seifert - Fireman

Francis Atwood Slattery - Commander (C0)

George Elmer Smith Jr. - Chief Electronics Technician

Laughton Douglas Smith - Lieutenant

Robert Bernard Smith - Machinist's Mate 2nd Class

Harold Robert Snapp, Jr. - Sonar Technician 1st Class

Daniel Peter Stephens - Lieutenant Commander

Joel Candler Stephens - Electronics Technician 2nd Class

David Burton Stone - Machinist's Mate 2nd Class

John Phillip Sturgill - Electrician's Mate 2nd Class

Richard Norman Summers - Yeoman 3rd Class

John Driscoll Sweeney, Jr. - Torpedoman's Mate Seaman

John Charles Sweet - Lieutenant

James Frank Tindol III - Communications Electronics Technician 2nd Class

Johnny Gerald Veerhusen - Commissaryman Seaman

Robert Paul Violetti - Torpedoman's Mate Third Class

Ronald James Voss - Sonar Technician 3rd Class

John Michael Wallace - Fire Control Technician 1st Class

Joel Kurt Watkins - Machinist's Mate 1st Class (SS)

Robert Westley Watson - Machinist's Mate Fireman

James Edwin Webb - Machinist's Mate 2nd Class

Leo William Weinbeck - Senior Chief Yeoman

James Mitchell Wells - Chief Machinist's Mate

Ronald Richard Williams - Seaman

Robert Alan Willis - Machinist's Mate 3rd Class

Virgil Alexander Wright III - Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class

Donald Howard Yarbrough - Torpedoman's Mate 1st Class

Clarence Otto Young Jr. - Electronics Technician 2nd Class

Rest in eternal peace.

Done