On this day, April 10th in 1963...

[MichaelWinicki]

The atomic sub USS Thresher sank 300 miles off the New England coast, killing everyone on board.

The first time I read about the Thresher accident it gave me a sick feeling. The sub sank until it broke apart. The water pressure was incredible.

129 were lost, making it the worst submarine loss of all time.

The popular theory of what happened is that a salt water line in the engine room, broke at a brazed pipe joint, which sprayed salt water on electrical components, which shorted out and shut down the nuclear reactor– which caused the sub to sink of over 8,000'.

The US has lost two atomic subs, the Thresher and the USS Scorpion in 1968.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

I had to go read up on this a bit......
Though the water was over 8000 feet deep she imploded at around 2500 feet and it was so forceful that death would have been almost immediate.
What a horrible way to go.
Were any remains ever found?

 

[StarBoyz83]

Thats crazy. I of course dont remember or think ive heard of this. Ive always had an obsession with the titanic so this is interesting to me. I will be looking this up.

 

[burmafrd]

Cannot imagine what the crew was going through as they kept sinking knowing what was going to happen.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Cannot imagine what the crew was going through as they kept sinking knowing what was going to happen.

I would liken it to what the folks on the German airliner crash must have thought and felt. Both must have been beyond awful.

The sub must have creaked and groaned as its superstructure was breaking. And who knows, with the reactor stuff off and the electrical system shorted, it may have been pitch black. Just them and their thoughts.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I had to go read up on this a bit......
Though the water was over 8000 feet deep she imploded at around 2500 feet and it was so forceful that death would have been almost immediate.
What a horrible way to go.
Were any remains ever found?

I never read that they did. Who knows what the water pressure does to the human body at that depth.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

I remember my dad talking about this as a kid. Some of his class mates from Annapolis were on it when it went down. He would talk about how many guys wanted to be on that sub, but most that wanted to didnt get the chance. Im sure all that didnt get the chance were glad looking back.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I remember my dad talking about this as a kid. Some of his class mates from Annapolis were on it when it went down. He would talk about how many guys wanted to be on that sub, but most that wanted to didnt get the chance. Im sure all that didnt get the chance were glad looking back.

I don't know if glad is the right word... maybe fortunate? Some probably had "survivor's guilt" over it.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

I don't know if glad is the right word... maybe fortunate? Some probably had "survivor's guilt" over it.

Maybe. It was a big deal back then getting to be on that sub. Fortunate is prob a good way to say it tho.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Maybe. It was a big deal back then getting to be on that sub. Fortunate is prob a good way to say it tho.

Yeah, from what I've read, it was a feather in the cap for sailor to make it on an atomic submarine.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Yeah, from what I've read, it was a feather in the cap for sailor to make it on an atomic submarine.

Especially that one. Those guys my dad knew were officers and it was a big deal. As a kid I just remember him talking about it. Now, as an old timer I can appreciate the significance of it much more.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

I put 3 asterisks next to the 2 guys that were classmates with my dad at Annapolis, class of 56. Collier was class president.

Officers in the Thresher crew:


Crew Members


HARVEY, John W.LCDR532870/1100USNUSS THRESHER
GARNER, Pat M.LCDR537183/1100USNUSS THRESHER
DI NOLA, Michael J.LCDR569926/1100USNUSS THRESHER
LYMAN, John S., Jr.LCDR524554/1100USNUSS THRESHER
***COLLIER, Merrill F.LT603907/1100USNUSS THRESHER
SMARZ, John (n), Jr.LT625796/1100USNUSS THRESHER
PARSONS, Guy C., Jr.LTJG630834/1100USNUSS THRESHER
***HENRY, James J., Jr.LTJG641651/1100USNUSS THRESHER
BABCOCK, Ronald C.LTJG641532/1100USNUSS THRESHER
WILEY, John J.LTJG648068/1100USNUSS THRESHER
MALINSKI, Frank J.LTJG647137/1100USNUSS THRESHER
GRAFTON, John G.LTJG647579/1100USNUSS THRESHER

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I put 3 asterisks next to the 2 guys that were classmates with my dad at Annapolis, class of 56. Collier was class president.

Officers in the Thresher crew:


Crew Members


HARVEY, John W.LCDR532870/1100USNUSS THRESHER
GARNER, Pat M.LCDR537183/1100USNUSS THRESHER
DI NOLA, Michael J.LCDR569926/1100USNUSS THRESHER
LYMAN, John S., Jr.LCDR524554/1100USNUSS THRESHER
***COLLIER, Merrill F.LT603907/1100USNUSS THRESHER
SMARZ, John (n), Jr.LT625796/1100USNUSS THRESHER
PARSONS, Guy C., Jr.LTJG630834/1100USNUSS THRESHER
***HENRY, James J., Jr.LTJG641651/1100USNUSS THRESHER
BABCOCK, Ronald C.LTJG641532/1100USNUSS THRESHER
WILEY, John J.LTJG648068/1100USNUSS THRESHER
MALINSKI, Frank J.LTJG647137/1100USNUSS THRESHER
GRAFTON, John G.LTJG647579/1100USNUSS THRESHER

Yeah, that brings it home.

 

[burmafrd]

I would liken it to what the folks on the German airliner crash must have thought and felt. Both must have been beyond awful.

The sub must have creaked and groaned as its superstructure was breaking. And who knows, with the reactor stuff off and the electrical system shorted, it may have been pitch black. Just them and their thoughts.

except that the crew knew exactly what was coming. And how it would happen. And odds are that it took a lot longer.