Scorpion Down • The Untold Story of the U.S.S. Scorpion

Back to Extras

The U.S. Navy never compiled an authoritative roster of ships and submarines that took part in the search for the USS Scorpion. Navy officials have also never officially confirmed that the Atlantic Submarine Force orchestrated a classified search for the submarine during the ten-day period between the time it left the Mediterranean and its scheduled arrival in Norfolk on Monday, May 27, 1968. The following roster of search participants compiled by the author is based on declassified navy messages, situation reports, and other documents as well as interviews with dozens of officers and enlisted men involved in the search. Ships that participated in both the classified and overt search are listed in both categories.

Classified Pre–May 27 Search

Confirmed participants (participation confirmed by former crewmen and/or navy documents)

USS Ray (SSN 653)
USS Josephus Daniels (DLG 27)
USS Compass Island (AG 153)

Likely participants (evidence exists confirming the ship was underway in the Atlantic during May 17–27, 1968 and likely would have been ordered to take part in the secret search)

USS Shark (SSN 591)
USS Simon Bolivar (SSBN 641)
USS Haddo (SSN 604)
USS John King (DDG 3)
USS Charles F. Adams (DDG 2)*
USS Semmes (DDG 18)*
USS Tattnall (DDG 19)*

USNS Norwalk (T AK 279)*
USS Hyades (AF 28)*
USS Monrovia (APA 31)*
USS Shasta (AE 33)*
USS Sagacity (MSO 469)*
USS Skill (MSO 471)*
USS Walworth County (LST 1164)*

Open-Ocean Scorpion Search: May 27-June 5

COMCRUDESLANT Ships

Norfolk, Virginia:
USS Beale (DD 471)
USS Douglas H. Fox (DD 779)
USS Eugene A. Greene (DD 711)
USS John King (DDG 3)
USS Josephus Daniels (DLG 27)
USS New (DD 818)
USS Robert A. Owens (DD 827)
USS Robert L. Wilson (DD 847)
USS William M. Wood (DD 715)

Charleston, South Carolina:
USS Soley (DD 707)

Mayport, Florida:
USS Allen M. Sumner (DD 692)
USS Forrest Royal (DD 872)
USS Sarsfield (DD 837)
USS William H. Standley (DLG 32)

Newport, Rhode Island:
USS Hugh Purvis (DD 709)
USS Julius A. Furer (DEG 6)
USS Koelsch (DE 1049)
USS Talbot (DEG 4)

Philadelphia:
USS Purdy (DD 734)

COMSUBLANT Submarines and Ships

Norfolk, Virginia:
USS Lapon (SSN 661)
USS Skipjack (SSN 637)
USS Argonaut (SS 475)
USS Cubera (SS 347)
USS Requin (SS 481)
USS Sea Leopard (SS 483)

New London, Connecticut:
USS Gato (SSN 615)
USS Greenling (SSN 614)
USS Pargo (SSN 650)
USS Skate (SSN 578)
USS Hoist (ARS 40)
USS Skylark (ASR 20)
USS Sunbird (ASR 15)

Brooklyn, New York:
USS Compass Island (EAG 153)

Charleston, South Carolina:
USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN 636)
USS Simon Bolivar (SSBN 641)
USS Chivo (SS 341)
USS Sennet (SS 408)
USS Petrel (ASR 14)
USS Ozark (MCS 2)***

Rota, Spain:
USS Kittiwake (ASR 13)
USS Preserver (ARS 8)

Amphibious/Other (Homeports Unknown)

USS Sagacity (MSO 469)*
USS Skill (MSO 471)*
USS Suffolk County (LST 1173)
USS Walworth County (LST 1164)*

Service/Support (Homeports Unknown)

USS Hyades (AF 28)*
USS Monrovia (APA 31)*
USS Shasta (AE 33)*
USS Waccamaw (AO 109)

Military Sea Transportation Service (Homeports Unknown)

USNS Mizar (T AGOR 11)
USNS Norwalk (T AK 279)*
USNS Bowditch (T AGS 21)

French Navy

FNS Requin

Focused Operations Search: June 7 to Oct. 31

USNS Mizar (T AGOR 11)
USNS Bowditch (T AGS 21)
USS Compass Island (EAG 153)
USS Petrel (ASR 14)

USS Ozark (MCS 2)**
USS Douglas H. Fox (DD 779)
USS Sturgeon (SSN 637)***

* Ships in routine transit across the Atlantic at the time of Scorpion search that were directed to watch for the Scorpion or signs of debris along their track.

** Joined later phase of Scorpion search on June 13, 1968 as flagship of Special Search Unit.

*** Joined search on June 7, 1968, replacing USS Lapon.

Sources: Atlantic Submarine Force Command Histories, 1967 and 1968; Report of Search Operations for USS Scorpion (SSN 589) by Commander Task Unit 42.2.1 (CO Submarine Flotilla 60, June 28, 1968; various navy messages and Scorpion search situation reports May 27–June 25, 1968.