Lost Boats
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died...rather we should thank God that such men lived...
~ George S. Patton
Lost on 26 AUG 1949 after being hammered by a violent polar gale off Norway, causing an electrical fire and battery explosion that generated hydrogen and chlorine gasses.
In extremely bad weather, men of USS COCHINO and USS TUSK (SS-426) fought to save the submarine for fourteen hours, performing acts of skillful seamanship and high courage. After a second battery explosion, abandon ship was ordered and USS COCHINO sank at 71°35' N., 23°35' E.
USS TUSK's crew rescued all of USS COCHINO's men except for one civilian engineer. Six sailors from USS TUSK were lost during the rescue.
Lost on 30 MAY 1958 with no loss of life, sinking off Hawaii while under tow after collision with USS SILVERSTEIN (DE 534).
USS STICKLEBACK's pressure hull was holed In her port side. The crew was removed and efforts were made to save the boat. Compartments flooded, but even with lines tied around her, USS STICKLEBACK sank in 1800 fathoms of water.
The entire crew was taken off prior to sinking.
Lost on 10 APR 1963 with the loss of 112 officers and crew and 17 civilian technicians during sea trials deep-diving exercises following a prolonged shipyard period for refitting.
Fifteen minutes after reaching test depth, USS THRESHER communicated with USS SKYLARK (ASR 20) that she was having problems and attempting to surface. USS SKYLARK heard noises like air rushing into an ballast tank - then, silence.
Rescue ship USS RECOVERY (ASR 43) subsequently recovered bits of debris, including gloves and bits of internal insulation. Photographs taken by the bathyscape TRIESTE proved that the submarine had broken up, taking all hands on board to their deaths in 1,400 fathoms of water, some 220 miles east of Boston.
USS SCORPION (SSN 589) was returning to Norfolk, VA. from a Mediterranean deployment. On 22 MAY 1968, shortly after midnight, she reported her position to be about 50 miles south of the Azores. Her last transmission ended at 0302.
USS SCORPION was never heard from again.
Later information has determined the time of the hull collapse as 1842 UDT on 22 MAY 1968 at a depth of 1525 feet, taking with her ninety-nine officers and men.
The exact cause of her loss has never been determined.