Bowfin News | May 2025

The USS Scorpion (SSN-589) was a Skipjack-class nuclear-powered submarine that sank in 1968. The circumstances surrounding its loss remain mysterious and have been the subject of various theories and investigations. The submarine was declared missing on May 27, 1968, after failing to return to its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia. The U.S. Navy had lost contact with the Scorpion on May 21, 1968, and by the night of May 22, 1968, there was significant concern about its status. The Navy waited until May 27 to officially declare the submarine missing, but by that time, the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) had already detected the breakup of the Scorpion’s hull as it sank beyond its crush depth.

The cause of the Scorpion’s loss has been the subject of much speculation, with theories ranging from a torpedo accident to a Soviet attack. The Navy’s official inquiry, completed in 1969, was unable to determine the specific cause of the loss. However, it listed accidents involving the Mark 37 torpedo as three of the most probable causes, including a hot-running torpedo, an accidentally or deliberately launched weapon, or the inadvertent activation of a torpedo by stray voltage.

The incident occurred during a period of heightened tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, and some theories suggest that the loss of the Scorpion could have been related to this geopolitical context. The USS Scorpion was part of the U.S. Navy’s fleet during the Cold War, and its loss was a significant event during this era.

The sinking of the USS Scorpion remains one of the most significant submarine losses in U.S. Navy history, with the loss of 99 crew members and two nuclear weapons. The incident has been a subject of ongoing interest and speculation, reflecting the challenges of operating submarines in the deep ocean and the risks associated with nuclear technology.