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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

NH 97556 Loss of USS Thresher (SSN-593), April 1963

Photo #: NH 97556  Loss of USS Thresher (SSN-593), April 1963
Title: Loss of USS Thresher (SSN-593), April 1963
Description: Debris on the ocean floor 8,400 feet below the surface may be a clue to the final resting place of the nuclear submarine USS Thresher. Taken last week by an underwater camera system operated by the oceanographic research vessel Atlantis II, these photographs show scattered bits of unidentified debris. The round objects are sea urchins which may range in size from four to twelve inches in diameter. The Navy states that the photographs in themselves are not conclusive evidence of the location of the missing submarine which sank on April 10, 1963, 220 miles east of Cape Cod. Ships of the searching force are continuing a minute search of the area with underwater cameras, sonar and other detection devices. Quoted from the original caption released with this photograph on 22 May 1963. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.
Catalog #: NH 97556
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Topic
  • Boats-Ships--Nuclear Powered
  • Boats-Ships--Submarine
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  • Photograph
Wars & Conflicts
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