The Impossible Rescue of the USS Squalus

Courageous divers and a new invention save men trapped in the ocean.
The Impossible Rescue of the USS Squalus
An illustration by John Groth of the USS Squalus and diving bell. Watercolor and ink on paper. U.S. Navy
Trevor Phipps
Updated:

In 1939, during a submarine’s regular test mission, a mechanical failure caused the boat’s engine room to fill with water and nearly half the crew drowned. The ship had sunk to a depth of over 200 feet.

Rescuers struggled to develop a rescue plan. This was a monumental task since, up to that point in time, no naval operation had ever succeeded in saving a ship lodged lower than 20 feet deep.

Trevor Phipps
Trevor Phipps
Author
For about 20 years, Trevor Phipps worked in the restaurant industry as a chef, bartender, and manager until he decided to make a career change. For the last several years, he has been a freelance journalist specializing in crime, sports, and history.