Nuclear Submarine Runs Aground South of Guam

The Associated Press ^ | Jan 8, 2005 | The Associated Press

[Jet Jaguar]

HONOLULU (AP) - A nuclear submarine ran aground about 350 miles south of Guam, injuring several sailors, one of them critically, the Navy said.

There were no reports of damage to the USS San Francisco's reactor plant, which was operating normally, the Navy said.

Jon Yoshishige, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet based at Pearl Harbor, said the Friday afternoon incident is under investigation and the 360-foot submarine was headed back to its home port in Guam.

Details on the sailors' injuries were not immediately available. The sub has a crew of 137, officials said.

Military and Coast Guard aircraft from Guam were en route to monitor the submarine and assist if needed, the Navy said.

Guam is a U.S. territory about 3,700 miles southwest of Hawaii.

---

On the Net:

U.S. Pacific Fleet: http://www.cpf.navy.mil

AP-ES-01-08-05 0343EST

[JimRed]

"Someone just lost their job."

Not just a job, a career. Unless, that is, everything was done "by the book" and this falls into the "s#it happens" category...

[fastattacksailor]

Add me to the ping list, please.


Submariners do it deeper!

[meema]

Someone just lost their job

My first thought as well...

[DBeers]

Skimmer navy---CV 60

target. :)

[judicial meanz]

Ping to 314

Updated information

[P.O.E.]

darn sandbars are getting as bad as deer crossing the roads

Maybe he was swerving to avoid a sea-deer.

[HipShot]

As close as Guam is to the Mariana trench, I'd not be surprised if there was a recent change.

[Doohickey]

You're "in".

[submarinerswife]

As close as Guam is to the Mariana trench, I'd not be surprised if there was a recent change.

How so? Very interested! Please explain.

[Doohickey]

You bet.

[Dianna]

Okay, who wants on the Steely-eyed killers of the deep ping list?

Add me please! My husband was on the USS Augusta from 91-96 (I think).

[Doohickey]

Okay! SSN = Saturdays Sundays and Nights.

[Schwaeky]

Yup.... we can't condemn the Captain , we don't have all the facts ( and probably will not get all the facts ). If it was a unexpected loss of power or a design flaw in the sub, why should we blame the captain ? Even if they were using sonar, it could have been a large rock or something like that, that could have been affected by a earthquake.

In the military, the CO is responsible for the actions of everyone under his/her command, and for everything that occurs and how respond to... That it ran aground was likely serious carelessness/negligence, and if so captain and senior officers should be canned. If result of mechanical failure, engineer should be reprimanded, but that's it because accidents resulting from faulty equipment can happen. Equipment can be replaced, people can't (well in the military--they can and are)... we're conservatives, last time I checked, we're supposed to be all about personal responsibility...

[Dianna]

Imagine the rumor mill that some freaked out wives are creating right now. It must be scary.

There's nothing worse than what your mind can make up when you don't know what's going on.

Prayers for all rsobin.

[judicial meanz]

Hipshots got a point

Those areas of the Pacific Ocean have a lot of underwater volcanic activity. I dont know if they are active or not, but the Yap trench is in the area, and a lot of little volcanic islands in the Caroline Chain.

With the recent volcano and earthquake activity, there may be sea bed changes out there.


Its just speculation, but it could be related in some way.

[fastattacksailor]

Oh, man do I remember that---and how true!

What always made me grateful to be a 'coner' was one simple word:

"ORSE"

BTW, I was a QM---they don't exist anymore. Now they have 'Nav' ET's

Bummer ! ;-)

[OldFriend]

You mean maybe he didn't run aground before he did run aground!

Benefit of what doubt.....either he did or he didn't. This is not a johnkerry moment!!!

[Doohickey]

You're in. I knew a Sonar girl and an M-div'er that were on the Augusta when she went bump in the night. Nice guys, but deeply paranoid after that event. The STS told me he had to take another sea tour because if he'd have gone to shore duty after that he'd have never been able to go back to sea.

[DonnerT]

I wonder what the other sub looks like?

[OldFriend]

And bless you for your service.