Triton Plaque Operation Sandblast

the triton plaque

in 8 days prior triton s departure on around-the-world submerged voyage, captain beach approached lt. tom b. thamm, triton s auxiliary division officer, design commemorative plaque upcoming voyage, first circumnavigation led portuguese explorer ferdinand magellan. plaque s eventual design consisted of brass disk 23 inches (58 cm) in diameter, bearing sailing ship reminiscent of magellan s carrack, trinidad, above submarine dolphin insignia years 1519 , 1960 between them, within laurel wreath. outside wreath motto ave nobilis dux, iterum factum est ( hail noble captain, done again ).

commodore tom henry, commanding submarine squadron 10, supervised completion of plaque. carving of wooden form done retired chief electrician s mate ernest l. benson @ new london. actual molding of plaque done mystic foundry.

during homeward leg of around-the-world voyage, triton rendezvoused destroyer john w. weeks on 2 may 1960 off cadiz, spain, departure point magellan s earlier voyage. triton broached, , weeks transferred finished plaque triton transport united states. plaque subsequently presented spanish government john davis lodge, united states ambassador spain. plaque located @ city hall in sanlúcar de barrameda, spain, , mounted on wall of city hall marble slab memorializing 1960 triton submerged circumnavigation.

duplicates of triton plaque presented mystic seaport museum in mystic, connecticut, , naval historical association in washington, d.c., u.s. navy submarine school , u.s. navy submarine force library , museum, both located in groton, connecticut.