At 2354Z on 21 May 1968, SCORPION sent a message that reported a position of 31-21N, 27-36W, an intended course of 290 and a planned speed of advance (SOA) of 18 knots for the remaining five day transit to Norfolk, Virginia, with an arrival time of 1700Z on 27 May.

At 18:20:44Z on 22 May, a battery-related (hydrogen) explosion killed or functionally disabled the crew and caused extensive internal structural damage. SCORPION sank vertically until the pressure-hull collapsed (imploded) at a depth of 1530-feet at 18:42:34Z. The wreckage then continued to sink vertically.

The position of the SCORPION wreckage - first identified on 28 October 1968 - is 32-55N, 33-09W. That position lies 297 nautical miles, bearing 290 from the position SCORPION reported 18 hours and 27 minutes before the time of the battery explosion.

The SOA required to transit that distance in that time is 16.1 knots which placed SCORPION about 35 nm behind her PIM (Projected Intended Movement) at the time of the battery explosion, well within the moving position “box” established for the transit to avoid interference with other US submarine operations.

Thus, SCORPION was on course and only slightly behind her PIM when lost because of battery-related explosion contained within the pressure-hull. Interactions with hostile forces - as conjectured by conspiracy theorists - could not have occurred.