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

[Doohickey]

I've got growing ping list going, so if you get some unclassified details please Freepmail me so I can ping the list. Thanks!

[submarinerswife]

Pure conjecture, M'Lady. After the tsunami, my wife and I spend considerable time examining the plate structure of the region, looking for reaction potentials

You can bet your sweet arse that it's pure conjecture. Or a guess which ever you prefer. :)

[Doohickey]

Absolutely.

[Doohickey]

You're in.

[Doohickey]

Not to be nitpicky, but 688's use HY-100 not HY-80 like older classes. :)

[submarinerswife]

So what does it mean?

Perhaps a sailor will tell you, but I won't. Referring to the term "tea bagging". If anyone want to explain this....I won't. I'm a lady.

[CivilWolf]

please add myself as well to the ping list.

[Doohickey]

It's traditional for the wives' club to send out a care package, along with a select group of wives in a small boat when returning to port.

[Robert A Cook PE]

?

Not when I was inspecting hull welds: SSN 688, SSN 698, 699, 700, 701, 702, through 714.

I'll defer to your statement on the newer boats.

[judicial meanz]

Updated Information:


Link:

http://www.guampdn.com/news/stories/20050109/localnews/1843619.html


20 hurt in sub incident

By Natalie J. Quinata
Pacific Sunday News; nquinata@guampdn.com

---

To the point


The USS San Francisco, one of three fast-attack submarines home-ported on Guam, ran aground yesterday and is expected to return Monday.

A U.S. Navy submarine home-ported on Guam ran aground about 350 miles south of the island yesterday afternoon, with at least one sailor critically injured.

The USS San Francisco was conducting a routine submerged operation and was en route to Brisbane, Australia, for a routine port visit, said Senior Chief Jonathan Annis, deputy public affairs officer for the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas.

According to a news release, the incident occurred around noon yesterday.

Annis said about 20 people on board were injured, but were being treated by an on-board hospital corpsman with specialized emergency training.

Annis said the corpsman has direct communication with on-shore physicians in case specialized instruction is needed.

Although the extent of the injuries was not known, Annis was able to say that the 20 sailors who suffered injuries were unable to stand their regular duty watches.

A rescue mission for the critically injured sailor is under way to determine whether an evacuation is necessary, and is expected to reach the submarine by this morning.

Military aircraft and the U.S. Coast Guard are en route to the submarine's location to monitor the situation.

Annis was unable to give the details of the extent of the damage to the submarine, but was able to say that the hull was still intact and that it is traveling on its own power above the water.

No damage to the weapons on board or to the submarine's propulsion plant was reported, but Annis said a full investigation will be conducted once it returns to port.

There also were no reports of damage to the reactor plant, which is operating normally.

The submarine is expected to return to Guam sometime Monday afternoon, Annis said.

Pacific Sunday News files state the Navy made Guam the submarine's home port because of Guam's strategic location, which allows for savings in time and distance. The 360-foot fast-attack submarine has a crew of about 150 sailors and officers.

As to what consequences the incident may have on the personnel or command of the submarine, Annis said it is "totally reliant on the circumstances of this situation, which they still have to determine."

Annis added that the port and the submarines have a long safety record.

"If you look at the number of hours these submarines have spent under way, I think the record speaks for itself," Annis said.

In 2002, Cmdr. Scott Waddle of the USS Greeneville was reprimanded by the Navy but remained in command of the submarine. In 2001, the Greeneville collided with a Japanese fishing boat off Hawaii, killing nine Japanese boys and men, Pacific Sunday News files state.

y submarine home-ported on Guam ran aground about 350 miles south of the island yesterday afternoon, with at least one sailor critically injured.

The USS San Francisco was conducting a routine submerged operation and was en route to Brisbane, Australia, for a routine port visit, said Senior Chief Jonathan Annis, deputy public affairs officer for the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas.

According to a news release, the incident occurred around noon yesterday.

Annis said about 20 people on board were injured, but were being treated by an on-board hospital corpsman with specialized emergency training.

Annis said the corpsman has direct communication with on-shore physicians in case specialized instruction is needed.

Although the extent of the injuries was not known, Annis was able to say that the 20 sailors who suffered injuries were unable to stand their regular duty watches.

A rescue mission for the critically injured sailor is under way to determine whether an evacuation is necessary, and is expected to reach the submarine by this morning.

Military aircraft and the U.S. Coast Guard are en route to the submarine's location to monitor the situation.

Annis was unable to give the details of the extent of the damage to the submarine, but was able to say that the hull was still intact and that it is traveling on its own power above the water.

No damage to the weapons on board or to the submarine's propulsion plant was reported, but Annis said a full investigation will be conducted once it returns to port.

There also were no reports of damage to the reactor plant, which is operating normally.

The submarine is expected to return to Guam sometime Monday afternoon, Annis said.

Pacific Sunday News files state the Navy made Guam the submarine's home port because of Guam's strategic location, which allows for savings in time and distance. The 360-foot fast-attack submarine has a crew of about 150 sailors and officers.

As to what consequences the incident may have on the personnel or command of the submarine, Annis said it is "totally reliant on the circumstances of this situation, which they still have to determine."

Annis added that the port and the submarines have a long safety record.

"If you look at the number of hours these submarines have spent under way, I think the record speaks for itself," Annis said.

In 2002, Cmdr. Scott Waddle of the USS Greeneville was reprimanded by the Navy but remained in command of the submarine. In 2001, the Greeneville collided with a Japanese fishing boat off Hawaii, killing nine Japanese boys and men, Pacific Sunday News files state

[Doohickey]

You got it!

[CivilWolf]

no published time for article below....


Navy projects bringing San Francisco into port Monday afternoon

by Zita Taitano, KUAM News
Saturday, January 08, 2005

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Additional craft speed to assist nuclear submarine after it runs aground near East Marianas Basin

An investigation has been launched surrounding the U.S.S. San Francisco after it ran aground while conducting submerged operations. The Los Angeles-class nuclear powered submarine ran aground approximately 350 miles south of Guam Saturday at approximately 12pm. U.S. Navy spokesperson Lieutenant Arwen Consaul says the sub was reportedly in the middle of the East Marianas Basin.

There is still no report as to the extent of the injuries and damage aboard the San Francisco, which according to the Navy, were still being assessed. The U.S. Pacific Command has speculated that there is one sailor critically injured and several others with lesser injuries. As well, there were no reports of damage to the reactor plant on board the sub, which according to Navy officials, is operating normally. The submarine has reportedly been surfaced following the incident.

Lt. Consaul says the submarine tender the U.S.S. Frank Cable and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Galveston Island are already on their way to escort the San Francisco on its way back to Guam. Lt. Consaul says none of the injured has been airlifted from the submarine, but adds that plans are being made to medically evacuate the injured sailors, once the assisting ships reach the submarine. Lt. Consaul says the Navy anticipates the submarine will arrive sometime Monday afternoon, Guam time.

[submarinerswife]

I'm in NYC right now and am on the phone to some buddies at SUBASE NLON. They said they would find out what, if anything,is needed right now. Would this be SUBVETS and John C.??

[Doohickey]

We don't do it anymore. It used to be very, very rare to "go active" but toward the end of my last sea tour it became SOP to ping when clearing baffles during routine ops.

I remember the sonar girls used to wet themselves when they got a chance to do a 0db ping. BQQ-5 will actually boil water at 0db.

[Robert A Cook PE]

NAvy relief Office, Guam (or Pearl) is probably the only way to get help out to the crew families.

[submarinerswife]

I remember the sonar girls used to wet themselves

Funny how the whole community uses the same term for the Sonar girls. haha

[judicial meanz]

Thanks man!

[Doohickey]

The sonar dome wasn't free flooding, because we didn't want water to drain out of it when surfaced. It was normally filled with fresh water before being closed out. It also wan't unheard of to put a live fish in there, either...

[Doohickey]

Try the Navy Relief Society, or your local SUBVETS chapter.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Hah!

You mean you've never been blasted "from below" when the sub ALONGSIDE starts doing PMS or testing after replacing parts....

For hours! Heck, you can stand topside and still feel the dock shake fromactive sonar waves.