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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Scorpion (SSN-589)
Keel Laying - Loss

Radio Call Sign: November - Victor - Charlie- Foxtrot

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Skipjack Class Attack Submarine: Laid down, 20 August 1958, at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT.; Launched, 19 December 1959; Commissioned, USS Scorpion (SSN-589), 29 July 1960; Last reported position, 21 May 1968, about 50 miles south of the Azores. Six days later, she was reported overdue at Norfolk; Crew declared "presumed lost," 5 June 1968; Struck form the Naval Register 30 June 1968; Final Disposition, in October 1968 Mizar (T-AGOR-11) located sections of Scorpion's hull in more than 10,000 feet of water about 400 miles southwest of the Azores. Subsequently, the Court of Inquiry was reconvened but, despite the myriad of data and pictures collected and studied, the cause of the loss remains a mystery.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 2,880 t., Submerged: 3,500 t.; Length 251' 9"; Beam 32'; Draft 28 ft.; Speed, Surfaced 15 kts, Submerged 30+ kts; Depth Limit 700'; Complement 118; Combat Systems, Sonar, BQR-12, BQR-2 passive, BQS-4 (modified) active/passive; Radar BPS-12; Fire Control, MK-101 torpedo FCS, ASW MK-48; Armament, six 21" torpedo tubes, forward; Propulsion System, one S5W nuclear reactor, two Westinghouse steam turbines, one propeller 15,000 shp.

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
196k	With her bow wrapped in the bunting of the constellation bearing her name, the Scorpion (SSN-589) slides down the ways at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT. 19 December 1959.	US Navy photo.
22k	The Scorpion (SSN-589) is waterborne following her launching at the Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT. 19 December 1959.	Photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
179k	Submarine Silhouettes of 1960: Nautilus (SSN-571), Seawolf (SSN-575), Skate (SSN-578), Skipjack (SS-585), Triton (SSRN-586), Halibut (SSGN-587), Thresher (SSN-593), Tullibee (SSN-597), George Washington (SSBN-598), & Ethan Allen (SSBN-608) classes.	U.S. Navy Photograph submitted by Ron Titus, courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand. Corp.
187k	Nuclear Submarine Profiles 1960: Nautilus (SSN-571), Seawolf (SSN-575), Triton (SSRN-586), Skate (SSN-578) & Skipjack (SS-585) classes, Halibut (SSGN-587) & Tullibee (SSN-597) classes, George Washington (SSBN-598) & Thresher (SSN-593) classes.	US Navy photo courtesy of Ron Titus courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand. Corp. Photo i.d. courtesy of Dave Johnston. Photo added 09/24/07.
75k	Scorpion (SSN-589) photographed, 27 June 1960, off New London, CT., during builder's trials. Vice Admiral Hyman G. Rickover is standing on her sailplanes with another officer.	US Navy photo # NH 97215, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
107k	Scorpion (SSN-589) possibly on 27 June 1960, off New London, CT., during builder's trials.	US Navy photo courtesy of Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr.
100k	Scorpion (SSN-589) photographed, 22 August 1960, off New London, CT. A "GUPPY" type submarine is faintly visible in the distance, just beyond the forward tip of *Scorpion*'s "sail".	US Navy photo # NH 97214, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
111k	Scorpion (SSN-589) photographed, 22 August 1960, off New London, CT.	US Navy photo # NH 97230, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
40k	Assigned to Submarine Squadron 6, Division 62, Scorpion (SSN-589) departed New London, Conn., on 24 August 1960 for a two-month deployment in European waters. During that period, she participated in exercises with units of the 6th Fleet and of other NATO navies. She is pictured here entering Portsmouth Harbor, England during that deployment.	Photo courtesy of Library of Congress and submitted by Bill Gonyo. Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
60k	Watercolour and gouache on paper painting by the artist Viktor Stepansky entitled "Diving Skipjack Class". The Skipjack Class (SSN-585 / 88-92) - clearing showing the tear-drop shape adopted by many of the submarine's successors. The Scorpion (SSN-589) is pictured here underway.	Photo & text courtesy of subart.net.
21k	A shipfitter measures the hull for a cofferdam to fit around an access hole to remove and install equipment, June 1963 to May 1964. The Scorpion (SSN-589) was the first nucelar sub to be overhauled by the Charleston, S.C. shipyard.	US Navy photo courtesy of Robert Hall.
24k	Scorpion (SSN-589) logo on ship's mail, May 1964.	Courtesy of Richard Leonhardt.
28k	Scorpion (SSN-589) in 1966 at D&S piers Norfolk Va. Cutlass (SS-478) and Orion (AS-18) in the background.	Courtesy of John Hummel.
72k	Scorpion (SSN-589) approaches Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) in preparation for coming alongside, outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, 10 April 1968.	US Navy photo # NH 70310, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, courtesy Lieutenant John R. Holland, Engineering Officer, *Tallahatchie County*, 1969.
72k	Scorpion (SSN-589) prepares to come alongside Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, 10 April 1968.	US Navy photo # NH 70309, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, courtesy Lieutenant John R. Holland, Engineering Officer, *Tallahatchie County*, 1969.
115k	Scorpion (SSN-589) comes alongside Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, 10 April 1968.	US Navy photo # NH 70305, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, courtesy Lieutenant John R. Holland, Engineering Officer, *Tallahatchie County*, 1969.
104k	Scorpion (SSN-589) comes alongside Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, 10 April 1968. The submarine's Commanding Officer, Commander Francis A. Slattery, is atop her sail, holding a megaphone.	US Navy photo # NH 70304 from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, courtesy Lieutenant John R. Holland, Engineering Officer, *Tallahatchie County*, 1969.
174k	Scorpion (SSN-589) ties up alongside Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, 10 April 1968. This view shows the submarine's line handling crew aft of her sail, just as she has been made fast and the National Ensign transferred to its "in port" position.	US Navy photo # NH 70308, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, courtesy Lieutenant John R. Holland, Engineering Officer, *Tallahatchie County*, 1969.
63k	Scorpion (SSN-589) alongside Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, in April 1968, shortly before she departed on her last voyage.	US Navy photo # NH 68141, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, courtesy Lieutenant John R. Holland, Engineering Officer, *Tallahatchie County*, 1969.
71k	Scorpion (SSN-589) alongside Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, in April 1968, shortly before she departed on her last voyage.	US Navy photo # NH 68140, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, courtesy Lieutenant John R. Holland, Engineering Officer, *Tallahatchie County*, 1969.
85k	Scorpion (SSN-589) alongside Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, in April 1968, shortly before she departed on her last voyage.	US Navy photo # NH 68136, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, courtesy Lieutenant John R. Holland, Engineering Officer, *Tallahatchie County*, 1969.
56k	Scorpion (SSN-589) alongside Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, in April 1968, shortly before she departed on her last voyage.	US Navy photo # NH 68139, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, courtesy Lieutenant John R. Holland, Engineering Officer, *Tallahatchie County*, 1969.
66k	Scorpion (SSN-589) alongside Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, in April 1968, shortly before she departed on her last voyage.	US Navy photo # NH 68138, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, courtesy Lieutenant John R. Holland, Engineering Officer, *Tallahatchie County*, 1969.
68k	Scorpion (SSN-589) alongside Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy, in April 1968, shortly before she departed on her last voyage.	US Navy photo # NH 70307, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, courtesy Lieutenant John R. Holland, Engineering Officer, *Tallahatchie County*, 1969.