Return to Naval Historical
Center home page.
Return to Online
Library listing
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
USS Thresher (SSN-593) -- Miscellaneous Views
USS Thresher featured an innovative design, capable
of extended underwater operations, high submerged speed and extremely
quiet operation. A large sonar occupied her bow, so the four torpedo
tubes were moved further aft in the hull and angled outboard.
She had a small "sail" atop her streamlined hull to
carry the forward diving planes, provide a surface conning station
and give internal space for periscopes and other retractable projections.
At the submarine's stern, a single multi-bladed screw was located
just aft of the rudder and after planes.
Thresher was laid down at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
on 28 May 1958. She was launched bow first on 9 July 1960, ran
sea trials in the spring of 1961 and went into commission on 3
August 1961. As her crew assembled in 1960, they designed and
adopted an insignia for their new "boat", one that featured
the Thresher shark and symbols of her operational capabilities.
This page features miscellaneous images related to USS Thresher,
including artworks, insignia and construction views.
For more views of USS Thresher, see:
USS Thresher (SSN-593), 1961-1963.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 97543
USS Thresher (SSN-593)
Artwork by Hultberg, circa 1960, depicting the submarine's anticipated
appearance when completed. It shows two torpedoes being fired
from Thresher's midships torpedo tubes.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 545 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 97553
USS Thresher (SSN-593)
Bow view of the submarine on the greased building ways, as workmen
prepare for her launching at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery,
Maine, 9 July 1960.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 143KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 97554
USS Thresher (SSN-593)
Mrs. Frederick B. Warder christens the submarine, during launching
ceremonies at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine,
9 July 1960.
Others present are (from left to right): Mrs. C. Pattisen, Lieutenant
Dale E. Deverspicke (Chaplains' Corps), and Captain Henry P.
Rumble.
Note that the christening took place at Thresher's stern.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 97552
USS Thresher (SSN-593)
Entering the water for the first time, during launching ceremonies
at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine, 9 July 1960.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 590 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 91424-KN (Color)
Insignia: USS Thresher (SSN-593)
Emblem adopted in 1960 and received in October of that year.
It was accompanied with this description: "The fish depicted
in the subject insignia is a THRESHER shark, which is characterized
by a tail that is approximately one-half of its total length.
The THRESHER shark reportedly attacks its prey by flailing the
long tail. The horizontal lines signify the deep diving capability
of THRESHER. The circles represent her sonar capability. The
motto, 'Vis Tacita', describes the overall characteristics of
the ship, 'Silent strength'."
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 131KB; 690 x 640 pixels |
 |
For more views of USS Thresher, see:
USS Thresher (SSN-593), 1961-1963.
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
30 March 2001