Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 97215: USS Scorpion (SSN-589) underway, 27 June 1960

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

USS Scorpion (SSN-589), 1960-1968.

USS Scorpion, a 3500-ton Skipjack class nuclear-powered attack submarine built at Groton, Connecticut, was commissioned in July 1960. Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, she took part in the development of contemporary submarine warfare tactics and made periodic deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and other areas where the presence of a fast and stealthy submarine would be beneficial.

Scorpion began another Mediterranean cruise in February 1968. The following May, while homeward bound from that tour, she was lost with her entire crew some 400 miles southwest of the Azores. In late October 1968, her remains were found on the sea floor over 10,000 feet below the surface by a towed deep-submergence vehicle deployed from USNS Mizar (T-AGOR-11). Photographs taken then and later showed that her hull had suffered fatal damage while she was running submerged and that even more severe damage occurred as she sank. The cause of the initial damage continues to generate controversy more than three decades later.

This page features or provides links to all our views of USS Scorpion.

For additional pictorial coverage of USS Scorpion, see:

  • USS Scorpion with USS Tallahatchie County, April 1968;
  • USS Scorpion with USS Tallahatchie County, April 1968 -- Part II;
  • Wreck of USS Scorpion -- Views taken in 1968;
  • Wreck of USS Scorpion -- Views taken after 1968.

    For a more complete history of USS Scorpion, see the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships" entry:

  • 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 #: NH 97215

    USS Scorpion (SSN-589)


    Photographed on 27 June 1960, off New London, Connecticut, during builder's trials.
    Vice Admiral Hyman G. Rickover is standing on her sailplanes with another officer.

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

    Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97214

    USS Scorpion (SSN-589)


    Photographed on 22 August 1960, off New London, Connecticut.
    A "GUPPY" type submarine is faintly visible in the distance, just beyond the forward tip of Scorpion's "sail".

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

    Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97230

    USS Scorpion (SSN-589)


    Photographed on 22 August 1960, off New London, Connecticut.

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

    Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 70305

    USS Scorpion (SSN-589)


    Comes alongside USS Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, 10 April 1968.
    Scorpion was lost with all hands in May 1968, while returning to the U.S. from this Mediterranean deployment.

    Courtesy Lieutenant John R. Holland, Engineering Officer, USS Tallahatchie County, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 113KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 70304

    USS Scorpion (SSN-589)


    Comes alongside USS Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, 10 April 1968.
    The submarine's Commanding Officer, Commander Francis A. Slattery, is atop her sail, holding a megaphone.
    Scorpion was lost with all hands in May 1968, while returning to the U.S. from this Mediterranean deployment.

    Courtesy Lieutenant John R. Holland, Engineering Officer, USS Tallahatchie County, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 101KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 70308

    USS Scorpion (SSN-589)


    Ties up alongside USS Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, 10 April 1968.
    This view shows the submarine's line handling crew aft of her sail, just as she has been made fast and the National Ensign transferred to its "in port" position. Scorpion was lost with all hands in May 1968, while returning to the U.S. from this Mediterranean deployment.

    Courtesy Lieutenant John R. Holland, Engineering Officer, USS Tallahatchie County, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 175KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97226

    Commander Francis A. Slattery, USN


    "Commanding Officer of the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Scorpion (SSN-589) when it was reported missing in May 1968. Cdr. Slattery took command of USS Scorpion in October 1967."
    Quoted from caption released with this photograph.

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

    Online Image: 74KB; 585 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97227

    Lieutenant Commander David B. Lloyd, USN


    "Executive Officer of the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Scorpion (SSN-589) when it was reported missing in May 1968."
    Quoted from caption released with this photograph.

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

    Online Image: 57KB; 585 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 64889-KN (Color)

    Insignia of USS Scorpion (SSN-589)

    This emblem was adopted in 1960.
    Within the shield are four symbols, representing: Scorpion's streamlined hull design; her nuclear powerplant; the ancient rock-throwing machine known as a "scorpion"; and the stellar constellation Scorpio, the "Scorpion".

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 90KB; 600 x 765 pixels

     


    In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold several other views of USS Scorpion (SSN-589), taken in 1960. 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 1052879
    USS Scorpion (SSN-589) off New London, Connecticut, 22 August 1960.
    Starboard bow aerial view.

  • Photo #: USN 1052881
    USS Scorpion (SSN-589) off New London, Connecticut, 22 August 1960.
    Port stern aerial view.

  • Photo #: USN 1052882
    USS Scorpion (SSN-589) off New London, Connecticut, 22 August 1960.
    Port stern surface (or low aerial) view.

  • Photo #: USN 1052883
    USS Scorpion (SSN-589) off New London, Connecticut, 22 August 1960.
    Port broadside aerial view.

  • Photo #: USN 1052884
    USS Scorpion (SSN-589) off New London, Connecticut, 22 August 1960.
    Bow-on surface (or low aerial) view.

  • Photo #: USN 1052885
    USS Scorpion (SSN-589) off New London, Connecticut, 22 August 1960.
    Bow-on aerial view.

  • Photo #: USN 1052887
    USS Scorpion (SSN-589) off New London, Connecticut, 22 August 1960.
    Stern-on surface (or low aerial) view.


    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 pictorial coverage of USS Scorpion, see:

  • USS Scorpion with USS Tallahatchie County, April 1968;
  • USS Scorpion with USS Tallahatchie County, April 1968 -- Part II;
  • Wreck of USS Scorpion -- Views taken in 1968;
  • Wreck of USS Scorpion -- Views taken after 1968.


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


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 30 January 2000
    Link added 8 April 2001