The 1971 USS Trepang (SSN-674) UFO Incident: Revisited

By Anthony F. Sanchez, Author & UFO Researcher
For UFO Currents

If you’ve been active on social media this first week of July, especially on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), you might have encountered a series of intriguing images purportedly depicting UFOs. These images are currently circulating and frequently accompanied by captions in at least three languages; for instance:

English:
Official Images of the United States Navy – UFO in the Arctic, USS Trepang, SSN 674, March 1971

Spanish:
Imágenes Oficiales de la Marina de los Estados Unidos – OVNI en el Ártico, USS Trepang, SSN 674, marzo de 1971

French:
Images Officielles de la Marine des États-Unis – OVNI dans l’Arctique, USS Trepang, SSN 674, mars 1971

I am certain you've seen at least one of these! So, in today’s fast-paced social media landscape, posts are often hastily analyzed and dismissed with comments like “That’s AI” or “Fake, created by Midjourney.” For those of us with a bit more experience, the go-to explanation might have been “Photoshopped.”

Before delving into my own analysis, let’s provide some background. The photos taken from the USS Trepang are just that—photos. They are not AI-generated images or artwork; they are actual photographs. To better understand the source and chronology of these images and the purported UFO incident, I recommend visiting the June 29, 2017, article on The Black Vault titled “Arctic UFO Photographs, USS Trepang, SSN 674, March 1971,” by John Greenewald.

John Greenewald confirmed the presence of the USS Trepang in the Arctic region during the time the photos were taken. His article also highlights evidence of photoshopping, a discovery made by Wim Van Utrecht and presented to Greenewald by UFO researcher Gilles Fernandez.

Fernandez’s analysis pointed out that two areas of one photo displayed identical cloud patterns, indicating photo manipulation. However, this does not necessarily mean that the craft in the analyzed photo is fake. If the craft were real, there would be no need for photo manipulation. So, why then did the original source choose to “enhance” an already compelling image? That remains a mystery.

Is the craft in the Wim Van Utrecht photo real? Possibly. Was it enhanced by Photoshop to look more dramatic? Yes.

Considering the chronology of events and the facts and details uncovered by Greenewald, it’s clear that there is more to this story. The resurgence of these images in July 2024 raises further questions and intrigue, especially with what we have seen with the USS Nimitz and the TicTac UFO. In just one week, on July 4th, I will be speaking about UFOs at the 2024 MUFON International Symposium. Undoubtedly, incidents like this one will be a hot topic among attendees, researchers, and enthusiasts.

Two noteworthy videos include The Black Vault’s June 29, 2017, presentation and a January 5, 2021, video posted by the YouTube channel “UFOmania – The truth is out there.” These videos consist of slideshows with detailed captions, offering viewers a comprehensive look at what Officer John Klika, the initial spotter, shared.

So, I would posit that these videos combined with the article from The Black Vault are strong resources providing a wealth of information that can help you form your own opinion on the matter.

Now that I’ve provided this overview, let me put on my UFO researcher hat and dive into the details of the 1971 USS Trepang UFO incident.

First, let me tell you about the USS Trepang (SSN-674). It was a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, named after the trepang, a marine animal known for its long, tough, muscular body. The USS Trepang was ordered on July 15, 1966, and built by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. The submarine was laid down on October 28, 1967, launched on September 27, 1969, and sponsored by Mrs. Melvin R. Laird. It was commissioned on August 14, 1970, and decommissioned on June 1, 1999.

Service History (1970-1971):

  • Home Port: New London, Connecticut.
  • Arctic Operations: From February 22 to March 22, 1971, the USS Trepang conducted extensive tests beneath the polar ice cap, gathering data for its weapons systems and performing scientific experiments on the ice cap’s movement, composition, and geological history.
  • Return Route: The submarine returned via Faslane, Scotland.
  • Caribbean Deployment: On April 22, 1971, it deployed to the Caribbean Sea, where it conducted weapons systems acceptance and evaluation trials at Frederiksted, St. Croix.
  • North Atlantic Operations: In November 1971, the USS Trepang conducted independent operations in the North Atlantic Ocean.

The timeline of these operations plays a crucial role in verifying the authenticity of the UFO photographs allegedly taken by the USS Trepang. These images, which have sparked significant discussion on social media, purportedly show UFOs encountered during the submarine’s Arctic mission.

Now, let’s delve into the UFO incident by examining the who, what, and where.

The UFO Incident:

  • Location: Between Iceland and Jan Mayen Island, Atlantic Ocean.
  • Date: March 1971.
  • Submarine: USS Trepang (SSN 674).
  • Admiral: Dean Reynolds Sackett.
  • Initial Spotter: Officer John Klika.
  • Photographs: Claimed to show UFOs.

The UFO incident allegedly occurred in March 1971, between Iceland and Jan Mayen Island in the Atlantic Ocean. During this time, the USS Trepang was under the command of Admiral Dean Reynolds Sackett. Officer John Klika was reportedly the first to spot the unusual objects through the submarine’s periscope. The photographs that have since circulated are claimed to show various UFOs.

Sources:

  • Photos Published: French Paranormal magazine “Top Secret.”
  • Investigators: Alex Mistretta, The Black Vault’s case file.
  • Key Contributors: Steve Murillo (investigator, former Navy pilot), John Greenewald (The Black Vault).

These images first gained public attention when they were published by the French Paranormal magazine “Top Secret.” Investigator and researcher Alex Mistretta has played a significant role in bringing these photographs to a broader audience. The Black Vault, managed by John Greenewald, has also investigated and archived this case, providing critical insights and verification of the USS Trepang’s location during the alleged incident.

Steve Murillo, a former Navy pilot and investigator, has been in contact with Admiral Sackett and Officer Klika, both of whom confirmed their presence on the USS Trepang during the time of the incident but denied seeing anything unusual.

Despite being seen all over social media today, the photographs remain controversial. We need not forget that some experts point out clear signs of possible photoshopping. Despite this, the compelling nature of the images and the corroborated details of the submarine’s location and crew continue to fuel interest and debate within the UFO research community.

But what about the claims and evidence? How well do these stand up to scrutiny? By examining these let us try to form our own opinion on the matter.

The photographs allegedly taken from the USS Trepang are intriguing, showing various shapes of UFOs, including cigar-shaped, triangular, and egg-shaped objects. These images were first published by the French Paranormal magazine “Top Secret,” which claimed that the photos bore inscriptions like “Official Photograph. Not to be Released. CT” and “Unauthorized Disclosure Subject. Security Certificat SSN 674. Criminal Sanction.”

An alternative explanation suggests these could be naval target practice balloons, rather than extraterrestrial craft. This theory is supported by the context of the USS Trepang’s operations, which included weapons systems tests.

UFO investigator Gilles Fernandez, along with Wim Van Utrecht, noted signs of photoshopping in some of the images. This discovery casts doubt on the authenticity of at least parts of the photographs, suggesting some level of manipulation.

Other Details:

  • Another submarine, the USS Skate (USN 578), was in the region in February 1971, adding complexity to the incident’s timeline and potential sources of the photographs.
  • John Greenewald filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to gather more information about the USS Trepang’s activities and crew during the time of the alleged UFO sightings.
  • Rear Admiral Dean Reynolds Sackett, who was on the USS Trepang during the incident, has verified his presence and service history but did not confirm any unusual sightings.
  • The official roster and ship logs confirm that John Klika was indeed on the USS Trepang in March 1971, aligning with the claims about his initial spotting of the UFOs.

What Emerges From All of This?

In scrutinizing the claims and evidence surrounding the 1971 USS Trepang UFO incident, several key points emerge. The photographs, while compelling, show signs of possible manipulation, and an alternative explanation of naval target practice balloons cannot be dismissed. The confirmed presence of the USS Trepang in the Arctic region during the alleged sightings, along with the verified service of Rear Admiral Dean Reynolds Sackett and Officer John Klika, adds credibility to the timeline but not necessarily to the UFO claims. As a researcher, it is crucial to weigh these factors and remain open to new information as it becomes available.

Okay, so how do we summarize this? Well, having examined the photos, claims, various individuals, and the research conducted by Greenewald, Fernandez, and Wim Van Utrecht, we can wrap things up by looking at the chronology and some closing ideas on what this incident might have been. So, I’d like to close by examining the events, as they can perhaps tell us lots when revisited from a high-level perspective.

  • 1966-1970: Construction and commissioning of USS Trepang (SSN-674).
  • February-March 1971: USS Trepang conducts operations beneath the Arctic ice cap.
  • March 1971: UFO photographs allegedly taken by USS Trepang between Iceland and Jan Mayen Island.
  • April 1971: Trepang’s deployment to the Caribbean Sea for trials.
  • November 1971: Trepang conducts independent operations in the North Atlantic Ocean.
  • July 8, 2015: Steve Murillo contacts Admiral Sackett; Admiral denies seeing anything unusual.
  • July 12, 2015: Updates from Alex Mistretta; both Sackett and Klika confirm presence on Trepang but deny seeing unusual objects.
  • June 29, 2017: John Greenewald’s fact-checking on The Black Vault confirms the presence of Trepang in the Arctic region.
  • June 26, 2017: Evidence of photoshopping presented by Gilles Fernandez.

For me, this level of examination helps in recapping the events and perhaps serves as a catalyst toward connecting them to modern ufological incidents.

We know that the USS Trepang (SSN-674), a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, was involved in a series of operations beneath the Arctic ice cap from February to March 1971. During this period, photographs were allegedly taken between Iceland and Jan Mayen Island, depicting various UFO shapes. These images surfaced in a French Paranormal magazine, “Top Secret,” and were later scrutinized by researchers such as Alex Mistretta and John Greenewald of The Black Vault.

Steve Murillo, a former Navy pilot, contacted Admiral Dean Reynolds Sackett, who was in command of the Trepang during the time of the alleged sightings. Admiral Sackett, along with Officer John Klika, confirmed their presence on the submarine but denied witnessing any unusual objects. The authenticity of the photos was further questioned when evidence of photoshopping was presented by Gilles Fernandez, indicating possible manipulation. And Greenewald’s investigation confirmed that the USS Trepang was indeed in the Arctic region during the time of the photographs. However, the claims of UFO sightings remain contentious, with alternative explanations suggesting that the images could depict naval target balloons used in weapons tests.

The story seems to periodically pop back up and take the online community by storm. Just this week alone, I must have seen half a dozen posts on Facebook by prominent UFO enthusiast pages and double that on X (Twitter). So with the emergence of these images online, once again, comes the subsequent continued analysis which highlights the complexities involved in verifying such UFO sightings.

Again, the potential connection to other well-documented incidents, such as the USS Nimitz TicTac UFO events, cannot be entirely dismissed, because while the evidence points towards possible photo manipulation, the exact nature of the objects remains a mystery.

And as someone who has been to hell and back for my own 2010 book, “UFO Highway,” it remains crucial to approach these types of claims with a balanced perspective, acknowledging both the possibilities and the limitations of our current understanding. The 1971 USS Trepang incident, whether a case of mistaken identity or genuine encounter, adds further layers to the complexity of UFO research.

Finally, this upcoming discussion at the MUFON International Symposium will undoubtedly bring forth more insights and perspectives, further enriching our collective quest for the truth. If you see me there, let’s chat.

Happy 4th of July!


Citations:

  1. Greenewald, John. "Arctic UFO Photographs, USS Trepang, SSN 674, March 1971." The Black Vault, 29 June 2017, updated 11 May 2023. Available at: https://www.theblackvault.com/casefiles/arctic-ufo-photographs-uss-trepang-ssn-674-march-1971/
  2. "USS Trepang, SSN 674, March 1971, Arctic UFO Photographs." UFOmania - The truth is out there (YouTube), 5 January 2021. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sL7F_H0uUQ
  3. "Proof one of USS Trepang UFO Photos was Photoshopped?" The Black Vault (YouTube). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHHvBJB9scU
  4. "USS Trepang (SSN-674)." Wikipedia, available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Trepang_(SSN-674)#1970-1971

Anthony is the author of the books ‘UFO Nexus‘, and ‘UFO Highway 2.0‘, https://ufocurrents.com/Books.aspx

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