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Thresher's builder's plaque. It would normally be mounted on the forward edge of the conning tower fairwater or the bridge. It was normally taken down and stowed below when the boat got underway. It was sometimes left ashore when the boat went on war patrol.

Photo courtesy of Bruce A. Broseker, whose grandfather made war patrols 11 thru 15 on the Thresher.

Thresher's stern as she sits on her building slip at the Electric Boat Company in Groton, CT., spring of 1940. The two "dimples" at the very stern are the shutter door for her two starboard side aft torpedo tubes. When the outer door to the tube is opened, these doors fold inward and the dimples provide a smooth exit for the weapon. This view also gives a good view of her rudder, stern diving planes, and propeller arrangement. The ventral location of these implements is an innovation that can be traced back to Simon Lake.

Photo courtesy of Bruce A. Broseker, whose grandfather made war patrols 11 thru 15 on the Thresher.

Thresher sliding down the ways at Electric Boat at Groton, CT. into the Thames River on March 27, 1940. The newspaper artists have used paint and ink to enhance some of the bunting on the bow of the submarine. Boats were launched in a relatively advanced state of completion during this time. That would change when the war started and the ways needed to be vacated so that another boat could be laid down.

Newspaper wire photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

A photo taken just after the one above, showing Thresher's slid into the Thames River, CT. on March 27, 1940. She is still resting on the cradle, but that would soon float free from under the boat and be recovered.