Fifty Five Years Ago

The Thresher created the "Sub Safe" program which was modeled on the TSO program with the FAA. It is something that is needed now in another area, autonomous automobiles. Sad that it had to be learned at the cost of life, but it is lesson that needs to be understood if only to save other lives.
 
Thanks for the reminder. Just when does this "peacetime gig" start?
 
Sorry about the inappropriate reference Greg.

They did dockside testing and determined that blowing the tanks froze the valves because of moisture in the tanks. The ice plugged the lines and prevented the ballast tanks from being cleared. It seems the reactor shut down as well so they had no means to surface.

http://ussnautilus.org/blog/the-loss-of-uss-thresher-ssn-593/
 
During the 1963 inquiry, Admiral Hyman Rickover stated:

"I believe the loss of the Thresher should not be viewed solely as the result of failure of a specific braze, weld, system or component, but rather should be considered a consequence of the philosophy of design, construction and inspection that has been permitted in our naval shipbuilding programs. I think it is important that we re-evaluate our present practices where, in the desire to make advancements, we may have forsaken the fundamentals of good engineering."
 
Bostbum, I didn't take it as an inappropriate reference, don't worry. It amazes me though how many people forget we've been at war for almost 17 years! I know you're not one of them.
 
5 years later - the Scorpion
Fast approaching the 50 yr anniversary of that one
and very different circumstances

I have known several men that served as Officers in Subs in the Nuclear Navy
 
The loss of the Thresher is a date that I will never forget. Had just got my DD 214 from the Navy. I was a freshman in college at Northeastern Oklahoma State University in Tahlequah, OK. Shooting snooker in a bar called the Lost Weekend when the news bulletin came on TV.
 
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