Kayshonda Buchanan Heritage_Essay Final
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USS Thresher: The Evolution of the US Naval Submarine and its Safety Culture
Kayshonda Buchanan
Senior Enlisted Academy
Class 262 Brown Group
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USS Thresher: The Evolution of the US Naval Submarine and its Safety Culture
One hundred and twenty-nine.
The catastrophic demise of USS Thresher is a significant piece of history in today's "Silent Service." US Navy's submarines have come a long way from hand-cranked wooden rigs to the state-of-the-art vessels of today. Senior enlisted leaders should know the history behind the demise of the USS Thresher and its impact on the US
Navy's submarine program because they are the caretakers of military history and tradition. This essay will cover the background of the USS Thresher incident and naval submarines' safety programs, their evolution, and their importance to military culture. Background
Submarines have played a vital role in American history, starting with the American Revolution. Turtle, the first combat submarine, was created by David Bushnell between 1771-
1775. (The Navy Department Library, 2017) The inception of the US Navy's Submarine Force began with USS Holland (SS-1) in 1900. The Submarine Force became a significant part of the Navy's operations during World War II. (
Submarine Force
, 2023) Sixty years ago, the second deadliest incident on record occurred in the early morning of April 10, 1963. USS Thresher (SSN-593), the first nuclear-submarine attack submarine, the first in her class, was commissioned on August 3, 1961. She completed sea trials, testing of her technology and weapons, and an overhaul since being commissioned. While conducting deep-diving tests with USS Skylark (ASR-20) approximately 200 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, MA, USS Thresher (SSN-593) lost communications, never to be heard from again. It was said to have imploded from the pressures of seawater. Remains of USS Thresher were found on the sea floor, 8400 ft below.
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One hundred and twenty-nine. 112 Sailors and 21 civilians; 129 souls perished in this disaster. (National Museum of the US Navy, n.d.) Bodies of her crew and shipyard personnel were never recovered from the accident. The tragic events of that day resulted in monumental changes to the Submarine Force. Those changes included the Submarine Safety(SUBSAFE) Program in 1963 and Deep Submergence Systems(DSS) Program in 1964. SUBSAFE ensures that submarine hulls will remain watertight and that the boats can recover from unexpected flooding with the most significant amount of reasonable assurance (Naval Sea Systems Command, n.d.-b). Knowledge of the background of Navy submarines, USS Thresher loss, and the origin of the SUBSAFE program lays the foundation for their evolution.
Evolution
The Submarine Force of the Navy, from 1900 with the purchase of USS Holland (SS-1) to today with the latest boat USS Oregon (SSN-793), has been a vital component in national defense. Submarines throughout the years have evolved from crews of 6 to 132; boats with lengths from 53 ft to 377 ft and can reach depths of 800+ ft today, a massive difference from 100 ft at its inception. (
Evolution of the US Navy Submarine
, n.d.) Two months after the loss of the USS Thresher, SUBSAFE was established. SUBSAFE is a program that ensures submarine hulls will remain watertight and recover from unexpected flooding; it was created to maintain the safety of its submarine fleet. (Naval Sea Systems Command, n.d.-a) Current submarine forces in the Navy are comprised of "53 fast attack submarines, 14 ballistic-missile submarines, and four guided-missile submarines." (Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic, n.d.) The sailors serving aboard are as important as the submarine forces' boats and weapons. The face of the United States submariner has changed drastically from an all-male
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force to one that is inclusive, no matter the gender. In 2009 the Women in Submarines (WIS) program and task force came to be. In 2014 Rear Adm David Johnson was quoted as saying, "We
are looking forward to mixed-gender officer, chief petty officers, and enlisted on our submarines going forward. It's a must, it's the right decision, and we're moving forward." (Larter, 2022) The evolution of the US Navy's submarine from tragedy to the most capable force in the world signifies their importance to military culture. Importance
Given the nickname "Silent Service," the submarine forces operate essentially undetected. However, they are critical to protecting our country from enemies above and below the water by acting as a strategic deterrent as a component of the nuclear triad. (
Supporting the Silent Service
, n.d.) Submarines can be submerged for months, making them lethal to the enemy, stealthy for the mission, and precise with the target. Safety is at the forefront of the Submarine Force. US Navy submarines have foundational
elements that aid in maintaining a culture of safety; they are responsibility, accountability, and integrity. Being responsible is a duty and obligation; one has to be accountable for actions and use integrity by adhering to a code of behavior. USS Threshers' motto 'Vis Tacita'- 'Silent Strength'(The Sextant, n.d.) forever lives on through our Submariners; the sacrifices of her and her crew have ensured the safety and strength of the Navy's Submarine Force today.
This essay covered the background of US naval submarines, the loss of USS Thresher and its significance to the SUBSAFE program, the evolution of the Navy's submarine, submarine
safety, and their importance to military culture. Senior enlisted leaders should know the history behind the tragedy of the USS Thresher and its impact on the US Navy's Submarine Safety
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Program because they are the caretakers of military history and tradition. From losses to being the catalyst of the world's most lethal and capable force, US naval submarines and their crew are vital to the defense of our nation; allowing its evolution to stop and safety to degrade would be catastrophic.
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References
Supporting the Silent Service
. (n.d.). BAE Systems. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from
https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/feature/bae-systems--commitment-to-
the-u-s--navy-s-submarine-fleet-
The Sextant. (n.d.).
USS Thresher - What We Learned From Loss
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https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/Platforms/Article-
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Larter, D. (2022, August 19). Virginia subs to get berthing changes for female crew. Navy
Times
. https://www.navytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2014/10/23/virginia-subs-to-get-
berthing-changes-for-female-crew/
Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic. (n.d.). Submarine Facts
. https://www.sublant.usff.navy.mil/About-Us/Submarine-Facts/
Schaffer, R. (2015, May 8).
The US Navy’s Submarine Safety Standards
. Bureau of Safety and Environment Enforcement. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from
https://www.bsee.gov/sites/bsee.gov/files/technical-
presentations/safety/schaffer-navy.pdf
Naval Sea Systems Command. (n.d.-a). Recognizing SUBSAFE Excellence
. https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/Article/3249237/recognizing-
subsafe-excellence/#:~:text=SUBSAFE%20is%20the%20quality
%20assurance,can%20recover%20from%20unanticipated%20flooding
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Evolution of the U.S. Navy Submarine
. (n.d.). Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved April 15, 2023, from https://media.defense.gov/2019/Jan/16/2002080499/-1/-1/1/161207-O-ZZ999-
615.JPG
Naval Sea Systems Command. (n.d.).
USS Thresher: A loss. A legacy.
https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/Article/3354927/uss-
thresher-a-loss-a-legacy/
National Museum of the U.S. Navy. (n.d.).
USS Thresher (SSN-593)
. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved April 16, 2023, from
https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/ph
otography/ships-us/ships-usn-t/uss-thresher-ssn-593.html
Submarine Force
. (2023, March 9). Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved April 16, 2023, from https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-
topic/communities/submarines.html
The Navy Department Library. (2017, November 2).
The Submarine Turtle
. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from
https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/library/online-
reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/s/submarine-turtle-naval-documents.html
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