USS Scorpion and Naval Mysteries

The USS Scorpion, a nuclear submarine, sank in 1968 under mysterious circumstances. Various theories, including a rogue torpedo, Soviet involvement, and mechanical failure, have been proposed. The official explanation suggests a torpedo malfunction, but skepticism remains. The mystery persists as the Navy refuses to reopen the case, leaving families without closure.

What was the USS Scorpion, and when did it sink?

• A battleship that sank in 1945

• A destroyer that sank in 1950

• A nuclear submarine that sank in 1968

• An aircraft carrier that sank in 1972

What was unique about the Skipjack class of submarines?

• They had a teardrop hull design

• They could not fire torpedoes

• They were the slowest subs in the Navy

• They had a square hull design

What was the Navy's official explanation for the Scorpion's sinking?

• It was sunk by a Soviet torpedo

• It was sunk by one of its own torpedoes

• It collided with an iceberg

• It was attacked by a sea monster

What role did espionage allegedly play in the Scorpion's fate?

• The Scorpion was never near Soviet waters

• The Soviets had no knowledge of the Scorpion

• The Scorpion was on a secret mission to the Arctic

• The Soviets intercepted messages due to a spy

What alternative explanation does historian Martin Ka Morgan suggest for the Scorpion's sinking?

• A collision with another submarine

• A fire on board leading to mechanical failure

• A deliberate scuttling by the crew

• An attack by a giant squid

Why might the Navy have preferred the torpedo story over a mechanical failure explanation?

• To distract from another naval disaster

• To avoid revealing a recurring maintenance issue

• To blame the incident on the crew

• To cover up a secret mission

What was the Thresher, and how is it related to the Scorpion?

• An aircraft carrier that rescued the Scorpion's crew

• A battleship that was sunk by the Scorpion

• Another US submarine that sank due to mechanical failure

• A Soviet submarine that attacked the Scorpion

What was the historical context during the time of the Scorpion's sinking?

• The Vietnam War

• The Cold War

• World War II

• The Korean War

Why does the Navy refuse to reopen the case of the Scorpion?

• The wreckage is inaccessible

• Operational security concerns during the Cold War

• They believe the case is already solved

• They have lost all records of the incident

What impact has the Navy's secrecy had on the families of the Scorpion's crew?

• It has resulted in public protests

• It has provided them with closure

• It has prolonged their anguish

• It has led to financial compensation