A Brief History of the USS Scorpion
The USS Scorpion (SSN-589) was a Skipjack-class submarine of the US Navy, the sixth vessel to be named Scorpion. Her keel was layed on 20 August 1958 in Groton, Connecticut, and was commissioned on 29 July 1960. During the early and middle 1960s, Scorpion participated in activities with the 6th Fleet, wargame exercises to develop nuclear submarine tactics, and a "northern run" during which she filmed a Soviet missile launch. Scorpion was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for her activities during operations with the 6th fleet in 1961.
Following a truncated overhaul in 1967, during which long-overdue SUBSAFE upgrades were not performed, Scorpion went to sea for a Mediterranean deployment. At the end of this deployment, Scorpion was reported overdue at Norfolk by the media on 27 May 1968. The Navy launched a public search, and the ship and crew were presumed lost on 5 June, and she was struck from the Naval Register on 30 June 1968.
Scorpion's wreck was located by the Navy's research ship Mizar on the seabed approximately 400 NM southwest of the Azores in 9,800 feet of water. She had sunk on 22 May 1968 and went down with all hands. Scorpion and her 99 crewmembers were the last US submarine, and one of only two US nuclear submarines, to sink.
USS Scorpion Squadron is named in honor of the boat and her 99 crewmembers who are still on eternal patrol.
Following a truncated overhaul in 1967, during which long-overdue SUBSAFE upgrades were not performed, Scorpion went to sea for a Mediterranean deployment. At the end of this deployment, Scorpion was reported overdue at Norfolk by the media on 27 May 1968. The Navy launched a public search, and the ship and crew were presumed lost on 5 June, and she was struck from the Naval Register on 30 June 1968.
Scorpion's wreck was located by the Navy's research ship Mizar on the seabed approximately 400 NM southwest of the Azores in 9,800 feet of water. She had sunk on 22 May 1968 and went down with all hands. Scorpion and her 99 crewmembers were the last US submarine, and one of only two US nuclear submarines, to sink.
USS Scorpion Squadron is named in honor of the boat and her 99 crewmembers who are still on eternal patrol.