Feb 13, 2020 15:00:00

Court decides to disclose internal data on the worst nuclear submarine accident in American history

With a record of 129 deaths, a ruling regarding the ``

Thresher sinking accident '' known as the worst nuclear submarine accident in American history, the ruling that `` The U.S. Navy should disclose non-classified internal materials '' was obtained Was.

Judge Orders Navy to Release USS Thresher Disaster Documents-USNI News
https://news.usni.org/2020/02/11/judge-orders-navy-to-release-uss-thresher-disaster-documents

The thrasher departed for a deep sea dive test on the morning of April 10, 1963, and communicated that 'a minor problem had occurred' as he approached the test depth. In response to an inquiry from the underwater rescue vessel asking if it could be controlled, the Thresher made a slight audible contact and then silenced, leaving a 'dulling crushing sound'. This sound was considered to be the 'sound crushed by the septum,' and the Thresher never returned to sea. The wreck resulted in the loss of 129 lives, including 16 officers, 96 troops and 17 civilian engineers on board.

The Navy Court of Appeals evaluated photos taken in the deep sea, raised parts, and the design and operation history of the Thresher, and found that `` damage to the brazed part of the seawater piping system '' was the cause of the accident. I decided.

James Bryant, a captain of a Thresher-class submarine, is challenging this decision. Based on the belief that `` learn lessons to be learned '', Bryant began his own investigation of the Shreshker sinking accident after retiring from the Navy, and the findings left much room for debate about the cause of the accident. Claimed that

Mr. Bryant pointed out that the Navy's investigation record on the Thresher remains undisclosed even beyond the 50-year confidentiality limit prescribed by the Information Disclosure Law, and Appealed to the court to publish.

The U.S. Navy initially stated that it would release its investigation records on the Thresher on time, and to eliminate concerns about `` disclosing important military secrets, '' the Navy scrutinized all documents before release. thing. However, with more than 3,600 documents related to the Thresher, the Navy's planned release in May 2019 was scrutinized, which led to Bryant's request.

During the hearing, the Navy argued that `` multiple departments will need time to scrutinize the document, '' but on February 10, 2020 local time, Judge Trevor McFadden of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia told the U.S. Navy. He ordered that the materials requested by Bryant be released in sequence. The United States Navy is obliged to publish about 300 related documents on the 15th of each month until all requested documents are released, and to submit a report on the status of the release of the documents every 60 days.

Bryant, who fully accepted the claim, commented, 'I'm pleased to read the actual published document and make sure that the document has not been significantly edited.'