Mission aftermath Operation Sandblast

1 mission aftermath

1.1 media coverage
1.2 public recognition
1.3 promotions , qualifications

mission aftermath

the first underwater circumnavigation of globe triumph of human prowess , engineering skill, feat united states navy can rank 1 of bright victories in man s ultimate conquest of seas.

media coverage

first submerged circumnavigation *1960* (gpo)



captain edward l. beach



presidential unit citation including special clasp in form of golden replica of globe of world.

because of public uproar on u-2 incident, sparked major soviet-american diplomatic crisis led collapse of 1960 paris summit, of official celebrations triton s submerged circumnavigation canceled. voyage did receive extensive contemporary coverage news media, including feature magazine articles argosy, life, look, national geographic, , saturday evening post television , newsreels.

triton s commanding officer during operation sandblast, captain edward l. beach, appeared on cbs news program face nation on 15 may 1960 while several triton crew members appeared on s line television game show. triton s submerged circumnavigation subject of abc television series expedition! broadcast on tuesday, 14 february 1961. hosted john d. craig, episode titled saga of triton, , featured film footage operation sandblast voice-over narration extracted captain beach s logbook.

the american government published 82-page redacted version of triton s log (pictured) following submerged circumnavigation. described new york times literary product in own right [that] rivals in spots suspense , drama of adventure pages of captain hornblower.

captain beach wrote lead article ( triton follows magellan s wake ) on circumnavigation november 1960 issue of national geographic magazine, , wrote book-length account, around world submerged: voyage of triton, published in 1962. beach made public presentations of accomplishments of operation sandblast before national press club (pictured), national geographic society on 27 may 1960, american philosophical society on 22 april 1961, society of non-destructive testing on 8 may 1965, , eagle-scout recognition dinner in chicago, illinois, on 4 november 1965.

historian bern dibner wrote victoria , triton, 1964 book famous maritime circumnavigations, featuring victoria, spanish carrack first ship circumnavigate world under ferdinand magellan, triton s submerged circumnavigation of 1960. also, beril becker wrote 1961 juvenile-market non-fiction account of operation sandblast, around world underwater: captain edward l. beach, illustrations richard modock. finally, feat of completing first submerged circumnavigation of world submarine triton recognized significant scientific , technological achievement year 1960 in bernard grun s authoritative historical reference, timestables of history. operation sandblast examined within overall context of global circumnavigations in joyce e. chaplin s 2012 history round earth: circumnavigation magellan orbit.

for 50th anniversary of operation sandblast (see below), writer-historian carl lavo wrote incredible voyage june 2010 edition of naval history magazine, , john beach wrote first submerged circumnavigation april 2010 issue of submarine review, official magazine of naval submarine league. mr. beach nephew of captain edward l. beach, commanding officer of uss triton during operation sandblast. finally, naval institute press published beneath waves dr. edward f. finch, 2010 biography of late captain beach, includes extensive coverage of operation sandblast. finally, in 1999 interview hands magazine, captain edward l. beach paid tribute crew , ship noting:

i m proud of triton s around-the-world cruise, didn t that. done crew , navy - ship navy built , put me in command of. s not personal achievement, although captain of ship.

public recognition

on 10 may 1960, triton received presidential unit citation secretary of navy william b. franke, accepted chief torpedoman s mate chester raymond fitzjarald, chief of boat, on behalf of triton s officers , crew. citation reads:

for meritorious achievement 16 february 1960 10 may 1960. during period triton circumnavigated earth submerged, following route of magellan’s historic voyage. in addition proving ability of both crew , nuclear submarine accomplish mission required 3 months of submergence, triton collected data of scientific importance. performance, determination , devotion duty of triton’s crew in keeping highest traditions of naval service. members of crew made voyage authorized wear presidential unit citation ribbon special clasp in form of golden replica of globe.

up time, second time u.s. navy vessel had been awarded presidential unit citation peacetime mission, nuclear submarine uss nautilus (ssn-571) receiving first peacetime puc in recognition of voyage under north pole (operation sunshine) in 1958. commemorate first submerged circumnavigation of world, triton personnel made voyage authorized wear presidential unit citation ribbon special clasp in form of golden replica of globe (pictured).

captain edward l. beach received legion of merit president eisenhower in ceremony held in conference room @ white house on 10 may 1960, presidential naval aide captain evan p. aurand reading following citation:

for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding service while serving on board u.s.s. triton 16 february 1960 10 may 1960. commanding officer, captain edward l. beach, united states navy, led crew courage, foresight , determination in unprecedented circumnavigation of globe, proving man s ability under trying conditions accomplish prolonged submerged missions testing new , complex equipment in world s largest submarine. historic voyage took ship strange waters under difficult , unknown conditions, result, triton collected valuable oceanographic information. captain beach s sound judgment, masterful leadership, professional skill , devotion duty in keeping highest traditions of naval service.

beach received 1960 giant of adventure award argosy magazine, dubbed him magellan of deep . beach received honorary doctorate of science (sc.d) american international college, citation reads:

your recent exploit in commanding largest submarine in existence during historic submerged voyage around globe has won , crew admiration of world circled.

in 1961, american philosophical society presented beach magellanic premium, nation s oldest , prestigious scientific award, in recognition of navigation of u.s. submarine triton around globe.

in 2011, operation sandblast, uss triton, , captain edward l. beach, jr., included in technology nuclear age: nuclear propulsion display cold war exhibit @ u.s. navy museum in washington, dc.

promotions , qualifications

on 11 april 1960, chief petty officers hugh m. bennett, jr.; joseph h. blair, jr.; harry w. hampson; herbert f. hardman; , lynn s. loveland announced promotion ensign , moved ward room. on date, first-class petty officers george m. bloomingdale; richard r. fickel; joseph r. flasco; gene r. hoke; lonard f. lehman; george w. mather; j. c. meaders; russell f. pion; gerald r. stott; , robert r. tambling promoted chief petty officers , moved in chiefs quarters.

executive officer mont adams, jr., received notice of promotion full commander on 30 april 1960, birthday, effective 1 february 1960. on date, chief engineering officer donald gene fears promoted lieutenant commander, effective 1 february 1960.

on 10 may 1960, william r. hadley, chief communications technician, awarded silver dolphin pin, signifying qualified serve on submarines. on date, enlisted men lawrence w. beckhaus; fred kenst; william a. mckamey; , james h. smith, jr., awarded silver dolphin pins.