Damaged sub returns to Norfolk [USS Hartford]

Navy Times ^ | 12/16/2003 | Christopher Munsey

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The attack submarine Hartford arrived Tuesday in Portsmouth, Va., to undergo repairs caused by a mishap near the island base of La Maddalena, Italy, on Oct. 25.

Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Naval Sea Systems Command engineers will examine the submarine to decide a repair plan, said Lt. Cmdr. Bob Mehal, spokesman for Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic. In the mishap, Hartford briefly touched bottom as it cruised on the surface, damaging its rudder and scrapping its hull.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The CO was relieved of command and six others were charged with dereliction of duty when this happened on Oct. 25.

[Poohbah]

The version I heard was that the sub was doing "angles and dangles" and smacked its stern against the bottom.

Ouch.

Running aground is a Career-Limiting Move (CLM).

[vetvetdoug]

briefly touched bottom......

I think that is putting it nicely into a major understatement.

[LasVegasMac]

For us USAF, Navy challenged types - what is "angles and dangles" - ?

LVM

[Poohbah]

When a submarine leaves port and dives, one of the things they do early on is put on fairly steep up and down angles--i.e., perform an "angles and dangles" check.

The idea is to make sure that all gear is properly stowed so that you don't have, for instance, a bunch of canned goods in the galley suddenly break loose and make an enormous racket while you're trying to get away from another ship.

[mylife]

a mishap near the island base of La Maddalena, Italy, on Oct. 25.

Since when is La Madd a base? :^)

[Az Joe]

"Angles and dangles" is a submariner's term for surfacing and submerging repeatedly or it can be used for substantial changes of depth underwater. Used to train the crew.

The down and up angle of the sub as it does this accounts for the term. The "dangle: part is thrown in because submariners are the greatest miltiary men in the world, kind of like supermen.

[Poohbah]

The newpaper obviously misunderestimated how severe the situation was.

[Moose4]

Sounds like "limiting" is an understatement. More like "career-ending."

}:-)4

[Az Joe]

They must have been down in the torpedoroom making hootch.

[Poohbah]

Since when is La Madd a base? :^)

La Maddelena, like all our base, are belong to us.

[Poohbah]

That went out ith alcohol-fueled torpedoes. Otto fuel is extremely toxic and self-oxidating--good luck putting it out once it catches fire.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Here's a picture of the sub's commanders:

[null and void]

What exactly is otto???

[null and void]

I'm guessing the last "to" is for TetraOxide or maybe TriOxide

[vetvetdoug]

Briefly touched bottom

Lets look at what is said and what happened. The CO, The Squadron Commander, and six of the crewmen were charged with dereliction of duty. The submarine stayed in Italy for a couple of weeks before it took a month to get back to the US for repairs. The Italian PM was upset when told of the accident (remember it "briefly touched bottom"). The boat didn't even submerge on the trip back. I believe there is a gross understating of what damage the submarine incurred.

[mylife]

Since when is La Madd a base? :^)
I suppose technically it is a support facility, but its not much more than an anchorage.

[Poohbah]

What is Otto Fuel II?

Otto Fuel II is a distinct-smelling, reddish-orange, oily liquid that the U.S. Navy uses as a fuel for torpedoes and other weapon systems. It is a mixture of three synthetic substances: propylene glycol dinitrate (the major component), 2-nitrodiphenylamine, and dibutyl sebacate.

Propylene glycol dinitrate, a colorless liquid with an unpleasant odor, is explosive. 2-Nitrodiphenylamine is an orange solid used to control the explosion of propylene glycol dinitrate. Dibutyl sebacate is a clear liquid used for making plastics, many of which are used for food packaging. It is also used to enhance flavor in some foods such as ice cream, candy, baked goods, and nonalcoholic drinks, and is found in some shaving creams.

[mylife]

Hehehe! one of my favs!

[null and void]

Thanks! You're the first I've encountered that knew that. (including several bubbleheads!)