Why the USS Thresher (SSN 593) Was Lost

Rule, Bruce

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The US nuclear submarine THRESHER (SSN-593) was lost because standard compensation procedures to adjust for hull compression during the deep-dive on 10 April 1963 were not followed. Consequently, THRESHER was heavy (negatively buoyant) at test-depth (1300 feet) and unable to deballast because adiabatic cooling froze moisture in the air-lines to the ballast tanks, blocking those lines.

Operation of the Reactor (Main) Coolant Pumps in FAST (2-pole mode) may have contributed to a reac