by Dave Boe
It was 40 years ago this past May that the USS TRITON (SSRN586)
returned from her epic making voyage around the world submerged. I was
fortunate to be a member of the crew when Triton made that historic
cruise. Reporting aboard Triton during her new construction period at
Electric Boat Co. in Groton, CT I still have vivid memories of events
leading up to the voyage and the voyage itself.
USS Triton SSRN 586
After builder's trials and the various acceptance trials, we started
preparations for our "shakedown" cruise. There was a lot of
speculation as to where we were going but even the old salts on board
were baffled by the unusual preparations we made. The forms we filled
out for our personal affairs, the extra provisions and test equipment
and the added riders from various civilian and Navy organizations gave
us a hint that this was to a shakedown cruise of a different kind.
On 16 Feb. 1960, Triton got underway for her shakedown cruise and the
crew, save only the Capt. and a couple of other key personnel had no
idea what was in store for them. After diving Capt. Beach came on the
1MC and informed the crew that we were under secret orders and were to
circumnavigate the world submerged. Our starting point and finishing
point would be a small group of islands known as St. Peter and St. Paul
Rocks off the coast of South America. We would follow basically the same
course as Magellan did in 1519. The purpose of the cruise was to prove
the reliability and capability of the US Navy's nuclear submarine
program and send a clear message to the Soviet Union. One must remember
that it was at the height of the cold war. Needless to say the crew was
excited and some could hardly believe what they heard the Capt. say.
"Around The World Submerged."
Triton was a unique one of a kind submarine with twin reactors. She
was 447 ½ feet long, with twin screws and a crew of about 170. We felt
up the challenge in our new "home", with a seasoned skipper
and a tried and tested crew with a lot of submarine experience. The trip
would last 84 days. We would be a test platform during this cruise for
many things including the "poopie suits" for the FBM program,
psychological studies for the space program (we carried a civilian
psychologist for the trip) and conduct mapping of the ocean floors and
currents.
The trip was not without incidents, some good and some not so good, a
few of which I will try to relate as best my memory serves. I'll not go
into detail but outline these incidents. A full accounting can be found
in Capt. Beach's narrative in his book, Around The World Submerged - The
Voyage of the Triton.
Some of these incidents were:
- Loss of the ships fathometer
- Failure of the stern planes hydraulic control valve
- Crossed the equator four times
- Crossed the International Date Line
- Transferred a sick crew member (Triton broached for the transfer
but kept her pres ure hull submerged to preserve our sub erged
status)
- Discovery of a new sea mount, Saunders peak (named after the crew
member on watch who discovered it)
- Ceremony honoring the USS Triton lost in the Pacific in WWII (we
passed close to the position where she was believed to have been
lost)
Triton remained submerged a total of 83 days 18 hours and 56 minutes
traveling 36,102 nautical miles. She was underway a total of 84 days 19
hours 8 minutes and traveled 36,335 nautical miles. She left the EB dock
on Feb 16 and arrived at state pier on May 11. When Triton surfaced
after 83 days submerged he hull and topside was covered with all manner
of living sea life and was rather "slimy." Triton's crew
received a heroes welcome upon returning and was met at State Pier by
Admiral Rickover, Navy Brass and families and friends. Triton was
awarded the Presidential Unit Citation by President Eisenhower and Capt.
Beach The Legion of Merit. Unfortunately our feat was somewhat over
shadowed by the downing of a U2 spy plane and the capture of it's pilot.
Captain Ned Beach
Triton remained in commission for only 10 years. During her short
life besides earning the Presidential Unit Citation she also earned the
Navy Unit Commendation. She was unique in many ways. Besides being the
only submarine constructed with twin reactors, she had a compartment
dedicated solely for crew berthing that had 96 bunks, was the last
submarine built with a conning tower, was the fastest submarine surfaced
(and most likely still holds that distinction), had two separate CPO
quarters and until recently the biggest submarine ever built at 447 ½
feet. As one of a handful of "Circumnavigators" it was an
honor to know and serve with a very special crew and to have served on
this proud old lady for over seven years.
USS TRITON - "NULLI SECUNDUS"
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