Mission accomplishments Operation Sandblast

key facts & figures

captain beach traces route of triton s submerged circumnavigation

the total mileage , duration of first submerged circumnavigation of earth follows:

nautical miles - 26,723 nautical miles (49,491 km; 30,752 mi)
dates - 24 february 25 april 1960
duration - 60 days , 21 hours
average speed of advance (soa) - 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)

triton crossed equator 4 times during circumnavigation on following dates , locations:

24 february 1960 - near st. peter , paul rocks, mid-atlantic ocean (longitude 29° 32. 8 west)
19 march 1960 - near christmas island, mid-pacific ocean (longitude 155° 54 .8 west)
3 april 1960 - makassar strait (longitude 119° 05 .1 east)
25 april 1960 - near st. peter , paul rocks, mid-atlantic ocean (longitude 28° 03 .0 west)

on shakedown cruise, triton submerged total of 83 days 9 hours, covering 35,979.1 nautical miles (66,633.3 km; 41,404.0 mi). total duration of shakedown cruise 84 days 19 hours 8 minutes, covering 36,335.1 nautical miles (67,292.6 km; 41,813.7 mi).

guinness world records lists triton s submerged circumnavigation 83 days, 9 hours, 54 minutes in duration, total submerged portion of shakedown cruise. when british trimaran cable & wireless adventurer completed 74-day circumnavigation in 1998, guinness world records recorded fastest motorized maritime circumnavigation, beating previous record held triton. when interviewed travel author clive tully, retired captain tom b. thamm, triton s diving officer during operation sandblast, confirmed actual duration of triton s submerged circumnavigation 60 days, 21 hours while further noting:

the cable & wireless adventurer did not beat triton s record if took them 75 days circumnavigate earth. , if route 4752 statute miles (7647.6 km) shorter ours, aren t close.

when tully made inquiries regarding inconsistencies pertaining fastest motorized maritime circumnavition record, guinness world records response was: if department of defense care present facts, ll @ again. tully noted information had been publicly available since publication of around world submerged: voyage of triton, captain beach s 1962 account of operation sandblast. arguably, triton s circumnavigation remains fastest motorized sea vessel, beating cable & wireless adventurer s 1998 74-day voyage , earthrace s 2008 circumnavigation of 60 days, 23 hours, , 49 minutes.

scientific & national security accomplishments

operation sandblast gathered extensive oceanographic, hydrographic, gravimetric, , geophysical data. water samples taken throughout triton s circumnavigation, tested differences in chemical composition, salinity, density, , temperature. such samples vital submarine operations. water salinity , density affects submerged trim, sonar performance, while warmer water affects efficiency of shipboard condensers and, consequently, ship speed. measurements installed gravity meter provided continuous record of variations in earth s gravity field throughout triton s circumnavigation. extensive gravity study assisted navy in developing navigational aids. 144 hydrographic bottles track ocean currents released during operation sandblast. triton mapped uncharted seamounts, coral reefs, , other submerged topographic structures using fathometer , sonar systems. these scientific data gathered during operation sandblast continued invaluable in providing information on oceanic changes, sydney levitus, director of noaa s ocean climate laboratory in silver spring, maryland, characterizing triton s data (pictured) being exciting set of observations.

ocean data sheet - 18 february 1960

operation sandblast proved nuclear-powered submarines undertake extended operations independent of external support. specifically, triton tested prototype ship inertial navigational system (sins) submarine use, being first submarine test floating low frequency (vlf) communications buoy system, both systems being vital navy s upcoming polaris fleet ballistic missile submarines (fbm) deterrence patrols. finally, psychological testing of triton s crew members determine effects of long-term isolation particularly relevant initial deployment of navy s fleet ballistic missile submarines, nasa s upcoming manned space program, project mercury, mit engineers assuring nasa getting moon , simpler guiding antiballistic missile or circumnavigating earth under water in nuclear submarine.

in 2000 book ships of discovery , exploration, historian lincoln p. paine further summarized true accomplishment of operation sandblast:

although voyage had been conceived way eisenhower impress soviet general secretary nikita khrushchev @ paris summit, conference canceled after u-2 pilot francis gary powers shot down on soviet union on may 1. coming less 2 years after transpolar expedition of uss nautilus, triton s accomplishment clear reaffirmation of u.s. technological supremacy.