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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 97543:  USS Thresher, artwork by Hultberg

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.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    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.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    30 March 2001