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Photo # USN 1136658: Bow section of the sunken USS Scorpion, October 1968

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

Wreck of USS Scorpion (SSN-589) --
Views Taken in 1968.

In late October 1968, after an extensive search of the Atlantic ocean floor some 400 miles southwest of the Azores, a deep-submergence vehicle deployed from USNS Mizar located USS Scorpion's wreck. This page features views taken at that time. They were released for publication in January 1969.

For additional photography of USS Scorpion's remains, see: Wreck of USS Scorpion -- Views taken after 1968.

Note: The photographs presented on these two pages represent all the images of Scorpion's wreck that are held in the Naval Historical Center's photographic collections.

For views of the equipment deployed from USNS Mizar in the search for Scorpion's wreck, see:

  • USNS Mizar (T-AGOR-11)

    For other pictorial coverage of USS Scorpion, see: USS Scorpion (SSN-589).

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: USN 1136658

    Wreck of USS Scorpion (SSN-589)


    View of the sunken submarine's bow section, on the Atlantic Ocean floor 10,000 feet deep, some 400 miles southwest of the Azores. Probably taken when Scorpion was located by USNS Mizar (T-AGOR-11) in October 1968.
    This image shows the top of the bow section, from the vicinity of the sail (which has been torn off)--at left-- to the tip of the bow--at top center. The torpedo room hatch is visible about half-way along the length of this hull section, with a lifeline track running aft from it.
    The original photograph bears the date 30 January 1969.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 133KB; 740 x 620 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1136658.

     
    Photo #: USN 1136656

    Wreck of USS Scorpion (SSN-589)


    View of the sunken submarine's sail, probably taken when Scorpion was located by USNS Mizar (T-AGOR-11) in October 1968, on the Atlantic Ocean floor 10,000 feet deep, some 400 miles southwest of the Azores.
    This image shows the starboard side of the sail, with its after end at top left, and the starboard access door in lower left. Debris is on the ocean bottom nearby. The device in top center is part of the equipment used in locating and photographing the wreckage.
    The original photograph bears the date 30 January 1969.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 149KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1136656.

     
    Photo #: NH 97219

    Wreck of USS Scorpion (SSN-589)


    "A mosiac of the sail of the Scorpion showing the starboard side and starboard fairwater plane. Located at the top center is the periscope fairing and masts protruding from the sail. An access door is clearly visible in the center of the picture. The white area is an area not photographed in this mosaic."
    Quoted from the original photo caption, which bears the date 30 January 1969. The photographs used to create this mosaic were probably taken when Scorpion was located by USNS Mizar (T-AGOR-11) in October 1968, on the Atlantic Ocean floor 10,000 feet deep, some 400 miles southwest of the Azores.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: USN 1136662

    Wreck of USS Scorpion (SSN-589)


    Section of the sunken submarine's hull, on the Atlantic Ocean floor 10,000 feet deep, some 400 miles southwest of the Azores. Probably taken when Scorpion was located by USNS Mizar (T-AGOR-11) in October 1968.
    This image shows the top of the hull, aft of amidships. The large oval opening is the stowage bay for the messenger bouy. Also visible are circular ballast tank vents, two rectangular access hatches into the superstructure and damaged snorkel exhaust piping.
    The original photograph bears the date 30 January 1969.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 430 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1136662.

     
    Photo #: NH 97217

    Wreck of USS Scorpion (SSN-589)


    "Damaged section of the Scorpion's snorkel exhaust piping fairing. The rectangle white areas are zinc plates attached to the fairing to retard corrosion. This section is referred to as the 'turtleback' of this class submarine."
    Quoted from the original photo caption, which bears the date 30 January 1969. This photograph was probably taken when Scorpion was located by USNS Mizar (T-AGOR-11) in October 1968, on the Atlantic Ocean floor 10,000 feet deep, some 400 miles southwest of the Azores.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97218

    Wreck of USS Scorpion (SSN-589)


    "Debris located on the bottom of the ocean floor in the area 400 miles southwest of the Azores Islands where the Scorpion was located."
    Quoted from the original photo caption, which bears the date 30 January 1969. This photograph was probably taken when Scorpion was located by USNS Mizar (T-AGOR-11) in October 1968, on the Atlantic Ocean floor 10,000 feet deep.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     


    In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold a few other views of USS Scorpion's remains, all taken in about October 1968 and released for publication in January 1969. The following list features these images.

    The images listed below are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
    DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".



  • Photo #: USN 1136653
    Access door from the port side of USS Scorpion's sail. It is separated from the sail and is lying on the sea floor in somewhat distorted condition.

  • Photo #: USN 1136657
    A long, narrow antenna from USS Scorpion protruding from the sea floor.

  • Photo #: USN 1136659
    Unidentified debris from USS Scorpion, lying on the sea floor.

  • Photo #: USN 1136663
    Forward part of the starboard side of USS Scorpion's sail, showing part of her starboard fairwater plane.
    Note: This view is one of those used to make the mosaic seen in Photo # NH 97219.


    Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • For additional photography of USS Scorpion's remains, see: Wreck of USS Scorpion -- Views taken after 1968.

    Note: The photographs presented on these two pages represent all the images of Scorpion's wreck that are held in the Naval Historical Center's photographic collections.

    For views of the equipment deployed from USNS Mizar in the search for Scorpion's wreck, see:

  • USNS Mizar (T-AGOR-11)

    For other pictorial coverage of USS Scorpion, see: USS Scorpion (SSN-589).


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 30 January 2000
    Link added 3 April 2001