The loss of the USS Thresher (SSN-593) on April 10, 1963, was a significant tragedy in naval history. The Thresher, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, sank during deep-diving tests about 220 miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. All 129 crew members and civilian technicians aboard were lost. The disaster occurred after the submarine experienced a mechanical failure, likely a leak in the engine room. The Thresher’s inability to surface and its subsequent descent to crush depth marked the deadliest submarine disaster in U.S. history, leading to widespread shock and grief within the Navy and the nation.
The Thresher’s sinking prompted the U.S. Navy to launch an extensive investigation and overhaul of submarine safety protocols. The inquiry concluded that a combination of design flaws, poor construction practices, and insufficient crew training contributed to the tragedy. As a result, the Navy implemented the Submarine Safety Program, known as SUBSAFE, to ensure the integrity and safety of submarine systems. This program introduced rigorous standards for design, construction, and maintenance, significantly improving the safety record of the U.S. submarine fleet. The legacy of the Thresher continues to influence naval practices, underscoring the critical importance of safety in underwater operations.
Gallery
Officers, Crew and Civilians Who Perished on USS Thresher
OFFICERS
ALLEN, Philip Harcourt
Lieutenant Commander
BABCOCK, Ronald Clare
Lieutenant Junior Grade
BIEDERMAN, Robert Donald
Lieutenant
BILLINGS, John Hilary
Lieutenant Commander
COLLIER, Merrill Francis
Lieutenant
DiNOLA, Michael John
Lieutenant Commander
GARNER, Pat Mehaffy
Lieutenant Commander
GRAFTON, John Gilbert
Lieutenant Junior Grade
HARVEY, John Wesley
Lieutenant Commander
HENRY, James John, Jr.
Lieutenant Junior Grade
KRAG, Robert Lee
Lieutenant Commander
LYMAN, John Sheldon, Jr.
Lieutenant Commander
MALINSKI, Frank John
Lieutenant Junior Grade
PARSONS, Guy Carrington, Jr.
Lieutenant Junior Grade
SMARZ, John, Jr.
Lieutenant
WILEY, John Joseph
Lieutenant Junior Grade
SHIPS CREW
ARSENAULT, Tilmon J.
Chief Engineman
BAIN, Ronald Eugene
Engineman Second Class
BELL, John Edward
Machinist’s Mate First Class
BOBBITT, Edgar Solon
Electrician’s Mate Second Class
BOSTER, Gerald Charles
Electrician’s Mate Third Class
BRACEY, George
Steward Third Class
BRANN, Richard Paul
Engineman Second Class
CARKOSKI, Richard James
Engineman First Class
CARMODY, Patrick Wayne
Storekeeper Second Class
CAYEY, Steven George
Torpedoman’s Mate Second Class
CHRISTIANSEN, Edward
Seaman
CLAUSSEN, Larry William
Electrician’s Mate Second Class
CLEMENTS, Thomas Edward
Electronics Technician Third Class
CUMMINGS, Francis Michael
Sonarman Second Class
DABRUZZI, Samuel Joseph
Electronics Technician Second Class
DAVISON, Clyde Elcott, III
Electronics Technician Third Class
DAY, Donald Clifford
Engineman Third Class
DENNY, Roy Overton, Jr.
Electrician’s Mate First Class
DIBELLA, Peter Joseph
Seaman
DUNDAS, Don Roy
Electronics Technician Second Class
DYER, Troy Earl
Electronics Techinician First Class
FORNI, Ellwood Henry
Chief Sonarman
FOTI, Raymond Peter>
Electronic Technician First Class
FREEMAN, Larry Wayne
Fire Control Technician Second Class
FUSCO, Gregory Joseph
Electrician’s Mate Second Class
GALLANT, Joseph Andrew
Chief Hospitalman
GARCIA, Napoleon Tomas
Chief Steward
GARNER, John Edmond
Yeoman Seaman
GAYNOR, Robert William
Engineman Second Class
GOSNELL, Robert Howard
Seaman
GRAHAM, William Edward
Chief Sonarman
GUNTER, Aaron Jackie
Chief Quartermaster
HALL, Richard Charles
Electronics Technician Second Class
HAYES, Norman Theodore
Electronic’s Mate First Class
HEISER, Laird Glenn
Machinist’s Mate First Class
HELSIUS, Marvin Theodore
Machinist’s Mate Second Class
HEWITT, Leonard Hogentogler
Chief Electrician’s Mate
HOAGUE, Joseph Hartshorne
Torpedoman’s Mate First Class
HODGE, James Porter
Electrician’s Mate Second Class
HUDSON, John Francis
Engineman First Class
INGLIS, John Penfield
Seaman
JOHNSON, Brawner Garth
Fire Control Technician First Class
JOHNSON, Edward Albert
Chief Engineman
JOHNSON, Richard Lee
Radioman Seaman
JOHNSON, Robert Eugene
Chief Torpedoman’s Mate
JOHNSON, Thomas Benjamin
Electronics Technician First Class
JONES, Richard William
Electrician’s Mate Second Class
KALUZA, Edmund Joseph
Sonarman Second Class
KANTZ, Thomas Charles
Electronics Technician Second Class
KEARNEY, Robert Dennis
Machinist’s Mate Third Class
KEILER, Ronald Dean
Interior Communications Electrician Second Class
KIESECKER, George John
Machinist’s Mate Second Class
KLIER, Billy Max
Engineman First Class
KRONER, George Ronald
Commissaryman Third Class
LANOUETTE, Norman Gilbert
Quartermaster First Class
LAVOIE, Wayne Wilfred
Yeoman First Class
MABRY, Templeman Norwood, Jr.
Engineman Second Class
MANN, Richard Herman, Jr.
Interior communications Electrician Second Class
MARULLO, Julius Francis, Jr.
Quartermaster First Class
McCLELLAND, Douglas Ray
Electrician’s Mate Second Class
McCORD, Donald James
Machinist’s Mate First Class
McDONOUGH, Karl Paul
Torpedoman’s Mate Third Class
MIDDLETON, Sidney Lynn
Machinist’s Mate First Class
MUISE, Ronald Arthur
Commissaryman Second Class
MUSSELWHITE, James Alton
Electronics Technician Second Class
NAULT, Donald Emery
Commissaryman First Class
NOONIS, Walter Jack
Chief Radioman
NORRIS, John Daniel
Electronics Technician First Class
OETTING, Chesley Charles
Electrician’s Mate Second Class
PENNINGTON, Roscoe Cleveland
Chief Electrician’s Mate
PETERS, James Glen
Senior Chief Electrician’s Mate
PHILLIPPI, James Frank
Sonarman Second Class
PHILPUT, Dan Andrew
Engineman Second Class
PODWELL, Richard
Machinist’s Mate Second Class
REGAN, John Sage
Machinist’s Mate First Class
RICHIE, James Patrick
Radioman Second Class
ROBISON, Pervis
Seaman
ROUNTREE, Glenn Alva
Quartermaster Second Class
RUSHETSKI, Anthony Alexander
Electronics Technician Second Class
SCHIEWE, James Michael
Electrician’s Mate First Class
SHAFER, Benjamin Nathan
Master Chief Electrician’s Mate
SHAFER, John Davis
Senior Chief Electrician’s Mate
SHIMKO, Joseph Thomas
Machinist’s Mate First Class
SHOTWELL, Burnett Michael
Electronics Technician Seaman
SINNETT, Alan Dennison
Fire Control Technician Second Class
SMITH, William Harry, Jr.
Boilerman First Class
SNIDER, James Leonard
Machinist’s Mate First Class
SOLOMON, Ronald Hal
Chief Electrician’s Mate
STEINEL, Robert Edwin
Sonarman First Class
VAN PELT, Roger Edwin
Interior Communications Electrician First Class
WALSKI, Joseph Alfred
Radioman First Class
WASEL, David Allan
Radioman Seaman
WIGGINS, Charles Louis
Fire Control Technician First Class
WISE, Donald Edward
Chief Machinist’s Mate
WOLFE, Ronald Eugene
Quartermaster Seaman
ZWEIFEL, Jay Henry
Electrician’s Mate Second Class
CIVILIANS
ABRAMS, Fred Philip
Inspector, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
BEAL, Daniel W., Jr.
Electronic Engineer, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
CHARRON, Robert E.
Electronic Technician, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
CORCORAN, Kenneth Ray
Field Engineer, Sperry Gyroscope Company
CRITCHLEY, Kenneth James
Progressman, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
CURRIER, Paul Chevalier
Progressman, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
DesJARDINS, Richard Roy
Mechanical Engineer, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
DINEEN, George J.
Electrician, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
FISHER, Richard Kaye
Mechanical Engineer, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
GUERETTE, Paul Alfred
Engineering Technician, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
JAQUAY, Maurice Frank
Sonar Field Engineer, Raytheon Company
KUESTER, Donald William
Electronics Engineer, Naval Ordinance Laboratory
MOREAU, Henry Charles
Leadingman, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
PALMER, Franklin James
Leadingman, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
PRESCOTT, Robert Dan
Marine Engineer, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
STADTMULLER, Donald T.
Field Engineer, Sperry Gyroscope Company
WHITTEN, Lawrence Eugene
Electronic Engineer, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Sources
Polmar, Norman. The Death of the USS Thresher: The Story Behind History’s Deadliest Submarine Disaster. 2004. Chilton.
Record of Proceeding of a Court of Inquiry convened at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire by order of Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, To Inquire into the circumstances of the loss at sea of USS Thresher, (SS(N)593) which occurred on 10 April 1963. United States Navy. 1963.
https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/yk130sc8375/00002075_mixed.pdf
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1964/may/searching-thresher
https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/Article/3354927/uss-thresher-a-loss-a-legacy
https://exhibits.stanford.edu/atomic-energy/catalog/yk130sc8375
https://www.worldwideboat.com/knowledgebase/a-history-of-submarines-and-u-boats
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/t/thresher-ssn-593-ii.html