Thresher Class Submarines

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The Thresher class submarines

In 1956, the Thresher class of submarines, a new class of nuclear subs, was produced after a study was ordered by Admiral Arleigh Burke, Chief of Naval Operations. The study, called “Project Nobska”, concentrated on ship improvements such as increased diving depths and designing quieter subs that used long-range sonar. The study took many prototypes and experimental platforms into consideration when drawing plans for improved performance of new subs for the future. The Thresher class adopted the S5W reactor plant from the Skipjack class, but implemented other major modifications.

Some of the changes that came with the new Thresher ships included the use of alloy steel, increased test depths, quieter operations from the use of raft mountings for equipment, large bow-mounted sonar, modified engineering areas and streamlined hulls. Even though these ships were larger in size, their speed was not affected because they used the same reactor plant as their predecessors.

The first submarine produced for this class was named the Thresher SSN-593. This ship was launched in 1960 and took part in tests and exercises for the next three years. In April 1963, the Thresher was used to carry out some deep diving tests with a crew. The ship was designed to go 1,300 feet deep. A test was conducted to see how close the Thresher could get to this depth limit. Accompanied by another ship, the U.S.S. Skylark which was monitoring its performance, it became clear that the Thresher was having trouble and it sank with its crew.

It is believed that a leak led to other developments that eventually forced a shutdown of the sub’s nuclear reactor. As a result, there was no power to force the ship back to the surface. Due to the extreme depths involved in this tragedy, it is only a theory, since the wreckage was inaccessible.

The second ship in the line of the Thresher class was the Permit SSN-594. The ship class adopted the name of the second ship after the U.S.S. Thresher SSN-593 tragedy and became known as the Thresher/Permit class thereafter.

The Thresher class fleet

The following ships were produced as part of the Thresher/Permit class submarines.

SSN-593 U.S.S. Thresher – ordered: Jan. 1958, commissioned: Aug. 1961, sunk: Apr. 1963
SSN-594 U.S.S. Permit– ordered: Jan. 1958, commissioned: May 1962, decommissioned: Jul.1991
SSN -595 U.S.S. Plunger – ordered: Mar. 1959, commissioned: Nov. 1962, decommissioned: Feb. 1990
SSN -596 U.S.S. Barb – ordered: ?, commissioned: Aug. 1963, decommissioned: Dec. 1989
SSN-603 U.S.S. Pollack – ordered: Mar. 1959, commissioned: May 1964, decommissioned: Mar. 1989
SSN-604 U.S.S. Haddo – ordered: Mar. 1959, commissioned: Dec. 1964, decommissioned: Jun. 1991
SSN-605 U.S.S. Jack – ordered: Mar. 1959, commissioned: Mar. 1967, decommissioned: Jul. 1990
SSN-606 U.S.S. Tinosa – ordered: Dec. 1958, commissioned: Oct. 1964, decommissioned: Jan. 1992
SSN-607 U.S.S. Dace – awarded: Mar. 1959, commissioned: Apr. 1964, decommissioned: Dec. 1988
SSN-612 U.S.S. Guardfish – awarded: Jun. 1960, commissioned: Dec. 1966, decommissioned: Feb. 1992
SSN-613 U.S.S. Flasher – ordered: Jun. 1960, commissioned: Jul. 1966, decommissioned: Sept. 1992
SSN-614 U.S.S. Greenling – awarded: Jun. 1960, commissioned: Nov. 1967, decommissioned: Apr. 1994
SSN-615 U.S.S. Gato– ordered: Jul. 1960, commissioned: Jan. 1968, decommissioned: Apr. 1996
SSN-621 U.S.S. Haddock – awarded: Aug. 1960, commissioned: Dec. 1967, decommissioned: Apr. 1993

Characteristics of the Thresher class submarine ships
Operators: United States of America
Preceded by: Skipjack class submarine
Succeeded by: Sturgeon class submarine
In commission: 3/8/1961 - 25/4/1993
Completed: 14
Lost: 1
Retired: 13
Preserved: 0

General characteristics
Displacement: Surfaced:3750tons
Submerged: 4300tons
Length: 278.5ft
Beam: 31.7ft
Propulsion: 1 S5W PWR,2 steam turbines 15,000shp, 1 shaft
Speed: Surfaced: 20+knots
Submerged: 30+knots
Range: Unlimited, except by food supplies
Test depth: 400m/1300ft
Complement: 112
Armament: 4xsub harpoon anti ship missile 4-6 SUBROC anti submarine missile
4x21in amidship tubes (12-18 reloads)

End of the Thresher class ship era

The loss of the U.S.S. Thresher, prompted further research and investigation into meticulous submarine construction. A program called, SUB SAFE, was created to make certain that the production phases of all new subs were conducted under strict guidelines. These steps slowed down the building process of new ships; however, the program proved successful. There is a memorial that commemorates the U.S.S. Thresher and its crew at the U.S.S. Albacore museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thresher/Permit_class_submarine
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/t/thresher.htm
http://knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/Thresher_class_submarine
http://www.hampton.lib.nh.us/hampton/history/ships/ussthresher.htm

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