The Submarine, the Speed of Sound, Attempt to Torpedo

Yesterday's Molten Eagle post on the mysterious loss of USS Scorpion was long enough, in my opinion, but by necessity omitted some of the juiciest testimony.

Those who read yesterday's links in their entirety [TEST: did you see the empty grave marked with the name Huckleberry? - TM2(SS) Harry David Huckelberry, among the 99 on eternal patrol featured by author Stephen Johnson?] may skip to the end. .........................................................................................................................

In those days there was no internet, of course, and it was rather difficult and awkward to learn the fates of your submariner buddies. As I said, I was a few months out of sub school when the loss was declared. The submarine force was 40 % larger then, with 100 boats versus 70 now. Within naval commands not directly concerned with the subsequent investigation there was no open discussion of the USS Scorpion's fate, much less any pertinent facts circumstances. The nature of submarines since day one has been, and must be relatively silent.

...................................................................................................

From Stephen Johnson's A Note from the Author:

...................................................................................................

My book does not contain contrived dramatic elements designed to manipulate the reader's emotions. ... Silent Steel was not written to prove any theory as to why the Scorpion sank with all hands, because no theory is provable by the evidence at hand. ... However the book does provide conclusive proof of one thing that did not happen to Scorpion: enemy attack.

From Johnson's The Facts Behind the May 22, 1968 Loss of USS Scorpion:

Psychologists have long understood that people are inclined to believe dramatic events have dramatic triggers, even when mundane causes are to blame. [page 5 of 38] ...

When this ocurred, 5o feet of the stern was pulled forward ... at the speed of sound, pushing machinery and bulkheads towards the reactor compartment. ... It was apparent to Navy scientists and engineers that Scorpion actually suffered implosion effects [page 8 of 38] ...

Furthermore, officers that served on Scorpion during the 1960s insist the Soviet undersea weapons of the period would have been ineffective in striking the Scorpion which was capable of eluding the weapons. Scorpion crew members have claimed a Soviet attempt to sink the Scorpion with a torpedo in 1966 was defeated by the submarines ability to hear the approaching weapon and to outdistance it with great underwater speed. [page 10 0f 38] [color emphasis added]

Additional photos (you knew there had to be more, as well as some we will not see) begin at page 20. For curious submariners, detailed reports begin at page 28 of 38. Be prepared for usual redacting.

Finally, Wikipedia provides these very interesting tidbits:

The reduced overhaul concept Scorpion went through had been approved by the Chief of Naval Operations [not a submariner] on 17 June 1966. On 20 July, the CNO also allowed deferral of the SUBSAFE extensions, which had otherwise been deemed essential since 1963.

During Scorpion's last six months of operational life, at least two sailors, EM2 Daniel Rogers and Radioman Chief Daniel Pettey, struggled to be released from duty aboard Scorpion due to the bad morale problems they witnessed. Rogers sought disqualification [sic] from submarine duty - which was then allowed - while Pettey actually attempted to transfer to the U.S. Army only to be released from Scorpion while in the Mediterranean just months before it was lost.

Wikipedia has some problems with its authors (i.e. disqualification). Does the author mean nonvolunteer?

..................................................................................................

Submarines are always silent and strange.