Was USS Scorpion probably lost to a battery explosion?
Short answerA battery explosion is judged the most likely explanation, but the available evidence does not establish the cause.
NotesA battery explosion is the preferred explanation in this assessment because it fits the known details and observed damage, while submarine batteries can produce dangerous gases and toxic material. Other possibilities include a trash-disposal malfunction, a torpedo exploding inside the submarine, and Soviet action. Deliberate Soviet ramming is treated with particular scepticism: intentional underwater collision would be an extraordinary choice, especially in peacetime. A 'crazy Ivan' manoeuvre could clear a submarine's baffles or intimidate a follower without an intention to collide. None of these explanations can be established conclusively from the available evidence.