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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


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Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) (SSN-610)


Ethan Allen Class Ballistic Missile Submarine: Laid down, 15 March 1960, at Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT.; Launched, 15 June 1961; Commissioned, USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), 10 March 1962; Redesignated Attack Submarine (SSN-610), 6 October 1980; Decommissioned, 1 December 1983; Struck from the Naval Register, 30 April 1986; Final Disposition, disposed of through NPSSRP (Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 1 October 1996 to 1 December 1997, listed as scrapped.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 6,946 t., Submerged: 7,884 t.; Length 410'; Beam 34'; Draft 32'; Speed, Surfaced 16 kts, Submerged 21 kts; Complement 110, (each Blue and Gold); Armament, 16 missile tubes; four 21" torpedo tubes, (forward); Propulsion, S5W Pressurized Water Nuclear Reactor, 2 geared turbines at 15,000 shp, one propeller.
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Thomas A. Edison108kThomas Alva Edison, born 11 February 1847 in Milan, Ohio, was one of the most prolific and imaginative inventors in world history. The importance of his accomplishments was highlighted when Congress in 1928 awarded him a gold medal for development and application of inventions which revolutionized civilization. Much of his work was of direct benefit to the Navy. He died 18 October 1931 in West Orange, N.J. Photo from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540, courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
Thomas A. Edison950k"Edison's Daughter Sponsor for Submarine with New Battery
First Undersea Craft to Carry Storage Battery Will Be Christened by Mrs. John Erye Sloane.
When the United States submarine L-8 (SS-48), the first in the world to carry the new Edison storage battery, is launched at Portsmouth Navy Yard, N.H., Mrs. John Eyre Sloane, daughter of the inventor, will crack the champagne bottle across her prow.
Mrs. Sloane, who yesterday accepted Secretary Daniels invitation to officiate at the christening, is the wife of a former assistant of Mr. Edison and now an inventor and an expert on aeronautics."
Somewhere along the line, she didn't christen the L-8 and the honor went to Miss Nancy Gill.
Mrs. Sloane finally got her chance 44 years later with the Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), on 15 June 1961.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from New-York Tribune. ((New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 13 April 1915, Image 5 & 24 April 1917, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Thomas Edison184kMrs. Madeline Edison Sloane meets her father in his nuclear self as Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610). USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Submarine Silhouettes 1960179kSubmarine 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.
USN photo submitted by Ron Titus, courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand. Corp.
Nuclear Submarine Profiles187kNuclear 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.
USN photo courtesy of Ron Titus courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand. Corp. Photo i.d. courtesy of David Johnston
Young
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731k Captain Charles McFadden Young, CO of the Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) Blue crew, from 10 March 1962 to 12 August 1964 FDC. Photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Text via Wolfgang Hechler.
Thomas Edison78kThomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), prelaunch photo, at Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT., June 1961. Courtesy of Gary E. Flynn, USN-RET, ex-GSSN, MT3 (SS), ETC (SS), and CWO-4.
Thomas Edison308kThomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) lights up the world on 15 June 1961.Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Thomas Edison29kThomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) sliding down the building ways at Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT., 15 June 1961. Courtesy of Gary E. Flynn, USN-RET,ex-GSSN, MT3 (SS), ETC (SS), and CWO-4.
Thomas Edison143kThomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) sliding down the ways at Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT., 15 June 1961.USN photo courtesy of Electric Boat.
Thomas Edison1.20kThomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) sliding down the ways at Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT., 15 June 1961.USN photo 1056638 courtesy of Electric Boat & Scott Koen ussnewyork.com.
Thomas Edison29kThomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) waterborne at Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT., 15 June 1961. Courtesy of Gary E. Flynn, USN-RET, ex-GSSN, MT3 (SS), ETC (SS), and CWO-4.
Thomas Edison124kThomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) is shown with her decks awash in Long Island Sound after commissioning, March 1962.Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Thomas A. Edison686kEleven page PDF Welcome Aboard pamphlet for the Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610).USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Thomas Edison768kHead on view of the Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), 16 December 1961.USN photo NPC 1060769 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Thomas Edison46k Commemorative post mark honoring Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) firing the first Polaris missile, 23 May 1962. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Thomas Edison30kPresident Kennedy at the periscope of the Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), 14 June 1962. Courtesy of Gary E. Flynn, USN-RET ex-GSSN, MT3 (SS), ETC (SS), and CWO-4.
Thomas Edison959kPresident John F. Kennedy looks through the periscope of ballistic missile submarine, Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), dockside at Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia, during his visit to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Naval Aide to the President Captain Tazewell Shepard, Jr. stands at right. Photo # JFKWHP-KN-C21126 & text courtesy of jfklibrary.org.
Thomas Edison957kThomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) underway in the Atlantic Ocean, 1962.National Archives photo # NA 428-N-1065854.
Photo scanned from Cordon of Steel: The U.S. Navy and the Cuban Missile Crisis , by Curtis A. Utz, Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy, Washington, D.C., 1993, ISBN 0-945274-23-8, p. 4, via Robert Hurst.
Thomas Edison98kCommemorative post mark honoring Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) first Blue Crew patrol, 15 February 1963. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Thomas Edison997kThe Submarine Tender Hunley (AS-31) in 1963 with her hammer-head crane in use transferring a missile with the Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610). USN photo courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Thomas Edison821kThe Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) makes her way along the coast, circa 1964. USN photo courtesy of pelicanharborsubvets.com.
Insert photo courtesy of Jim Keller.
Thomas Edison48kBow view of the Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) entering Dry Dock 5 in October of 1966. She was the first SSBN to be given a complete overhaul, including fuel replacement. USN photo courtesy of Robert Hall.
Thomas Edison43kThomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) in Dry Dock 5 at Charleston, S.C. in 5 September 1967. USN photo courtesy of Robert Hall.
Thomas Edison1.84kThe Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) on the surface, date and place unknown. USN photo courtesy of Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Thomas Edison787kThe Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) arrives at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 6 August 1973 with the assistance of Dekaury YTM-178.USN photo courtesy of Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Thomas Edison500k LCDR William B. McAree (Commanding Officer) and LCDR Stewart E. Reuter (Executive Officer) on the periscope in the operation center of the Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) at Mare Island on 7 August 1973.USN photo courtesy of Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Thomas Edison459k Crew members at the piano aboard the Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) at Mare Island on 7 August 1973. Seated are SK2(SS) Fred Staley at the keyboard, HM1(SS) Nathan Brown and standing are CS1(SS) Larenzo Vincente and Chief Frank O'Baker. USN photo courtesy of Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Thomas Edison196kView of the berthing spaces of the Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) upon her arrival at Mare Island in August 1973 for overhaul. USN photo # 118047-8-73, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Thomas Edison368kView of the crews mess of the Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) upon her arrival at Mare Island in August 1973 for overhaul. USN photo # 118054-8-73, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Thomas Edison391kView of the crews mess and ship's namesake at Mare Island in August 1973.USN photo # 118055-8-73, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Thomas Edison352kView of the captain's cabin aboard Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) upon her arrival at Mare Island in August 1973 for overhaul. USN photo # 118037-8-73, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Thomas Edison531kView of the captain's cabin aboard Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) upon her arrival at Mare Island in August 1973 for overhaul. USN photo # 118038-8-73, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Thomas Edison253kView of the wardroom aboard Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) upon her arrival at Mare Island in August 1973 for overhaul. USN photo # 118032-8-73, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Thomas Edison432k2 views of Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) underway on 22 December 1978.USN photos NPC 1174356 & NPC KN-27758 (insert) courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Thomas Edison470kIn August 1982 Thomas A. Edison (SSN-610) conducted the first Western Pacific deployment by an ex-SSBN. During deployment, her crew enjoyed visits to Japan, Korea, Thailand and the Philippines. On 29 November 1982, 40 miles (64 km) east of Subic Bay, Philippines, Thomas A. Edison collided with Leftwich (DD-984) while conducting ASW exercises. Thomas A. Edison was at periscope depth. Her sail and sail planes were damaged, but there was no flooding apart from a minor leak down the periscope well. After the collision the boat never submerged again. She went to Subic Bay for temporary repairs, then made a 35-day transit across the Pacific on the surface to Bremerton, Washington, where she had home ported as an SSN.Text courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
USN photos courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Edison
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2.32kFour photo PDF showing the Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) on the day of her decommissioning ceremony at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on 30 November 1983.
In the photos, you can see a portion of the turtleback starboard of the sail that was damaged in her collision with Leftwich (DD-984). The section of the turtleback was cut out after the collision and never replaced. You’ll also notice that the missile compartment has been removed and the two halves of the ship welded back together. Initially, this was the process for nuclear ballistic missile submarines that were being decommissioned. Afterwards, these submarines would be parked in the Dead Fleet and go back into drydock to be recycled at a later date. This was not done with missile boats decommissioned from the late 1980s on; they would go into drydock only once, where the entire ship would be recycled with one drydocking. The square box on the stern of the ship is a closure for access to remove components from the engine room. The final photo is of the Thomas A. Edison being towed away to the Dead Fleet.
Photos & text courtesy of John MacKay.
PSNSY 683k An aerial view of a section of the Ship Intermediate Maintenance Facility at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on 17 May 1993. One submarine tender and 16 decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines are shown including the Seawolf (SSN-575); six George Washington, and Lafayette class SSBN's (with their missile sections cut out) plus several Skate, Skipjack, Permit and Sturgeon class SSN's. All are awaiting scrapping.
Bottom row, from left to right Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), Skipjack (SS-585), Snook (SSN-592), Henry Clay (SSBN-625), Lapon (SSN-661), Dace (SSN-607), Skate (SSN-578), Swordfish (SSN-579), Sargo (SSN-583), Seadragon (SSN-584).
Across the pier are Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618), and not in view, Patrick Henry (SSBN-599), George Washington (SSBN-598), Barb (SSN-596) & Sea Devil (SSN-664).
Official USN photo # DN-ST-95-01863, by Calvin Larsen, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. Photo i.d. courtesy of David Johnston (USN, retired)
PSNSY291k"Sign of the times." March 1994 photo of Nuclear submarines at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard waiting in line for scrapping.
Top row left to right are Ethan Allen (SSBN-608), Seawolf (SSN-575), Plunger (SSN-595), Shark (SSN-591), Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636), Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN-685) alongside Sperry (AS-12), with Triton (SSRN-586) across the pier from the Sperry.
Bottom row, from left to right Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), Skipjack (SS-585), Snook (SSN-592), Henry Clay (SSBN-625), Lapon (SSN-661), Dace (SSN-607), Skate (SSN-578), Swordfish (SSN-579), Sargo (SSN-583), Seadragon (SSN-584).
Across the pier are Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618), and not in view, Patrick Henry (SSBN-599), George Washington (SSBN-598), Barb (SSN-596) & Sea Devil (SSN-664).
There are so many submarines at PSNSY that the yard is running out of pier space.
Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Thomas Edison12kThomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), at top, George Bancroft (SSBN-643) in the middle and Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN-685) at the bottom, awaiting scrapping at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. 2000.Courtesy of US Navy.
Spent Fuel569kSealed reactor compartments are shipped by barge out of Puget Sound Naval Base down the coast and along the Columbia River to the port of Benton. There the radioactively-contaminated hull sections are transferred to special multiwheeled high-load trailers for transport to the Hanford Reservation in Washington State. Pictured below is the burial ground for spent fuel of the following 77 nuclear reactor submarines as of March 2003:
Patrick Henry (SSBN-599),
Snook (SSN-592),
George Washington (SSBN-598),
Scamp (SSN-588),
Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601),
Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618),
Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600),
Dace (SSN-607),
John Adams (SSBN-620),
Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602),
Barb (SSN-596),
Ethan Allen (SSBN-608),
Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610),
Pollack (SSN-603),
Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN-685),
James Monroe (SSBN-622),
Skipjack (SS-585),
Nathan Hale (SSBN-623),
Plunger (SSN-595),
Shark (SSN-591),
Lafayette (SSBN-616),
Sam Houston (SSBN-609),
Jack (SSN-605),
Haddo (SSN-604),
Tinosa (SSN-606),
Guardfish (SSN-612),
Permit (SSN-594),
Queenfish (SSN-651),
Ulysses S. Grant (SSBN-631),
John Marshall (SSBN-611),
George C. Marshall (SSBN-654),
Flasher (SSN-613),
Guitarro (SSN-665),
Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617),
George Washington Carver (SSBN-656),
Tecumseh (SSBN-628),
Halibut (SSGN-587),
Will Rogers (SSBN-659),
Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655),
Daniel Boone (SSBN-629),
Greenling (SSN-614),
John C. Calhoun (SSBN-630),
Casimir Pulaski (SSBN-633),
Skate (SSN-578),
Sargo (SSN-583),
Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657),
Sturgeon (SSN-637),
Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640),
Swordfish (SSN-579),
Seadragon (SSN-584),
Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634),
Simon Bolivar (SSBN-641),
Hammerhead (SSN-663),
Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658),
Tullibee (SSN-597),
Lewis & Clark (SSBN-644),
Pargo (SSN-650),
Seahorse (SSN-669),
Gurnard (SSN-662),
Flying Fish (SSN-673),
Gato (SSN-615),
Puffer (SSN-652),
Seawolf (SSN-575),
Baton Rouge (SSN-689),
Bergall (SSN-667),
Whale (SSN-638),
Henry Clay (SSBN-625),
James Madison (SSBN-627),
Finback (SSN-670),
Spadefish (SSN-668),
Sunfish (SSN-649),
George Bancroft (SSBN-643),
Grayling (SSN-646),
Pintado (SSN-672),
Tunny (SSN-682),
Archerfish (SSN-678),
& Woodrow Wilson (SSBN-624).
As time passes & more boats are retired from service and their reactors are brought here, so the numbers rise. In this photo dated November 2009, 98 nuclear submarines and six nuclear cruisers have been recycled. For an up to date view, click here
USN photo submitted by Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Insert link courtesy of wikimedia.org
Thomas Edison413kThis Steinway piano spent 22 years (1961-1983) aboard the ballistic missile submarine Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610), the only full size piano ever installed aboard a submarine conducting nuclear deterrent patrols. Part of the artifact collection of the Naval Historical Center on the Washington Navy Yard, its being temporarily loaned back today, 11 June 2003 to Steinway in return for a complete restoration. It is then scheduled to go on display this summer at the Steinway Company Museum in New York in an exhibit celebrating the 150 years of the famous piano company. Photo # O-0000X-001 courtesy of Steinway Piano Company / US Navy.

View the Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Thomas A. Edison - SSBN-610 by Gary E. Flynn
FAS - SSBN-608 Ethan Allen-Class FBM Submarines

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