Skip to main content

Naval History and Heritage Command
Tags
Related Content
Topic
  • Exploration, Expeditions and Voyages
  • Boats-Ships--Submarine
Document Type
  • Historical Summary
Wars & Conflicts
Navy Communities
  • Veterans
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC
Author Name
Place of Event
Recipient Name

Bathyscaphe Trieste

1958–1963


U.S. Navy Bathyscaphe Trieste (1958-1963)

U.S. Navy Bathyscaphe Trieste undertow, enroute to a deep water dive in the Pacific, 15 September 1959. Note, the bathyscaphe is flying both the United States and Swiss flags. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photograph, NH 96798.


Trieste—a research bathyscaphe—was the development of a concept first studied in 1937 by Swiss physicist and balloonist Auguste Piccard. World War II delayed his work on the deep-sea research submarine until 1945 when he worked with the French government on the development of the craft. In 1952, Piccard was invited to Trieste, Italy, to commence construction. Scientific and navigational instruments for the vessel came from Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. In August 1953, the bathyscaphe was first placed in the water and later in that month, Piccard and his son, Jacques, dove to a depth of five fathoms. 

After several years of operations in the Mediterranean, the U.S. Navy acquired the vessel in August 1958 and transported the bathyscaphe to San Diego, California, where it was homeported. Beginning in December of 1958, Trieste was fitted with a stronger sphere, fabricated by the Krupp Iron Works of Germany.   

Following the ship’s fabrication, Trieste was transported to Guam to participate in Project “Nekton.” On 23 January 1960, Trieste made history when Lieutenant Don Walsh, USN, and Jacques Piccard descended seven miles to the Challenger Deep—located at the southern end of the Mariana Trench—the deepest known point of the Earth’s oceans. 

Following the historic dive, the bathyscaphe was overhauled and then conducted a number of dives out of the San Diego area supporting Navy research objectives. In April 1963, nuclear submarine Thresher (SSN-593) was lost with all hands off the Massachusetts coast. Trieste was transported across the country to Boston where it began to search for the lost submarine. After a number of dives, Trieste discovered debris from Thresher 220 miles off Cape Cod that included the submarine’s sail, which clearly showed the number “593.” For its part in the Thresher search, the bathyscaphe and its commander received the Navy Unit Commendation. 

After the search mission was complete, Trieste was taken out of service and returned to San Diego. In early 1980, the bathyscaphe was transported to the Washington Navy Yard where the vessel was placed on exhibit at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy.

***** 

National Museum of the U.S. Navy Exhibit

DANFS

Additional Information

Selected Imagery


Bathyscaphe Trieste

Jacques Piccard, Guiseppe Buono, and Ernest Vigil inspected Bathyscaphe Trieste after the first dive off the coast of Guam, 10 November 1959. National Archives photograph, USN 1044856.



Bathyscaphe Trieste

Jacques Piccard, co-designer of the bathyscaphe, and his assistants make final checks, prior to Trieste's first deep dive in the Marianas Trench. On 15 November 1959, off Guam, it dove to 18,600 feet, breaking the previous record of 13,000 feet. USS Wandank (ATA-204) was in the distance. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photograph, NH 96802.



Wreck of USS Thresher

Section of a sonar dome from the bow of a Thresher-class submarine photographed 24 August 1963 during the second series of dives by the Bathyscaphe Trieste. The bathyscaphe completed 10 dives some 220 miles east of Cape Cod where the nuclear-powered submarine Thresher sank 10 April. Naval History and Heritage Command photograph, NH 97562.



Bathyscaph Trieste

Outboard profile drawing of Trieste's configuration in about 1963, prepared for the Navy Museum, Washington, DC., during the early 1980s. Trieste was placed on exhibit in the Navy Museum in 1980. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photograph, NH 95258.



Bathyscaphe Trieste

Presentation made to the Naval Historical Foundation by Lieutenant Don Walsh, officer in charge of Bathyscaphe Trieste, of a commemorative plaque, an American flag, a philatelic cover, and photograph of Trieste. Trieste dove to a record depth of 35,800 feet off Guam on 23 January 1960. Naval History and Heritage Command photograph, NH 120133.



Bathyscaphe Trieste

Bathyscaphe Trieste after its dive of 18,600 feet. On the conning tower were Dr. Andrea B. Rechnitzer (left), Jacques Piccard, and the two men who were at the controls. National Archives photograph, USN 1044871.



Bathyscaph Trieste

Left to Right: Lieutenant Larry Shumaker, assistant officer in charge; Lieutenant Donald Walsh, officer in charge; Dr. Andreas B. Rechnitzer, scientist in charge; and Jacques Piccard, co-designer and technical advisor of Bathyscaphe Trieste. National Archives photograph, USN 1044872.



Bathyscaphe Trieste

Bathyscaphe Trieste, circa 1963. National Archives photograph, USN 1073330.



Bathyscaphe Trieste

General arrangement drawing, showing the bathyscapeh's main features. Drawing was released in connection with Trieste's record dive to 35,800 feet in the Challenger Deep, off Guam, on 23 January 1960. Naval History and Heritage Command photograph, NH 96807.



Bathyscaphe Trieste plaque

Plaque of the unit that operated Bathyscaphe Trieste. The plaque commemorates the record dive of 37,800 feet in the Challenger Deep on 23 January 1960. “The Conquest of Inner Space. 37,800 Feet. Challenger Deep.” Navy History and Heritage Command photograph, NH 102603-KN.


hide
Published: Tue Nov 28 09:19:11 EST 2023