350-005 AMERICAN NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINE SSN-593 "THRESHER"

The USS Thresher (SSN-593) was an American nuclear powered fighter submarine (SSN). The keel under this vessel was laid in 1958, the launch took place in July 1960, and the entry into service with the US Navy took place in August 1961. The total length of the ship was 84.7 m, width 9.7 m, and the underwater displacement - approx. 14,300 tons. The maximum underwater speed was up to 30 knots. The ship had four 533 mm torpedo tubes. The USS Thresher (SSN-593) was the leading unit of the submarine class of the same name. Thresher ships were developed to complement and later replace Skipjack ships in the line. Compared to their predecessors, they were longer, had greater surface and underwater displacement, and could reach greater immersion depth. They were also much quieter, and therefore much more difficult to detect. They also received more modern electronic equipment and a new AN / BQQ-2 sonar. They are also recognized as the first fully multi-purpose nuclear submarines in the US Navy. The first USS Thresher (SSN-593) of this class was built at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. His service was extremely short and tragic, because less than two years after entering service - in April 1963 - the USS Thresher sank with the entire crew. This disaster was caused by problems with the welds of HY80 steel, the ship was made of. It also made a significant mark on the entire further development of American nuclear-powered submarines during the Cold War.