Posted on 01/08/2005 3:19:47 AM PST by 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.
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On the Net:
U.S. Pacific Fleet: http://www.cpf.navy.mil
AP-ES-01-08-05 0343EST
It was the earthquake, it shifted the seabed floor. Yeah, that's the ticket, the tsunami, yeah.
Ping. Slightly more information here.
Number of injured onboard nuclear submarine now 23
Friends and relatives are mourning the death of a Navy sailor aboard the U.S.S. San Francisco, after the nuclear submarine ran aground during a submerged operation. The sailor, whose name is being withheld pending a mandatory 24-hour period, died from critical injuries he sustained when the submarine ran aground 350 miles south of Guam Saturday afternoon.
"Our sincerest condolences and prayers go out to the family and friends of the sailor," stated in a media release from the commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Marianas.
The number of injuries from the incident has gone up from 20 on Saturday to 23 on Sunday. Injuries range from broken bones, laceration bruises, and a back injury. Currently medical personnel, including a doctor, remain on board and are treating the injured crew.
The submarine is continuing its way toward Guam. It is being escorted by the Coast Guard cutter Galveston Island and U.S.N.S. GySgt. Fred W. Stockham. It is expected to return to its homeport on Guam Monday afternoon (Guam time). The U.S.N.S. Kiska and military aircraft are also continuing to provide assistance as required.
The U.S.S. San Francisco was homeported in Guam 23 months ago. It is staffed by a crew of 137 sailors. The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine is one of the three currently homeported on Guam as part of the U.S. Naval Forces Marianas Submarine Squadron 15. The U.S.S. Corpus Christi was homeported on Guam in October of 2002, while the U.S.S. Houston arrived in Guam in December of last year.
The U.S.S. San Francisco is designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships. Its other missions range from intelligence collection and Special Forces delivery, and to strike warfare using Tomahawk cruise missiles. According to the Navy there were no reports of damage to the reactor plant, which is operating normally."
According to COMNAVMAR Public Affairs Lt. Arwen Consual, an investigation is underway at this time. "The U.S. Navy's main concern is for the injured and that the submarine makes its way back to Guam as safely as possible," she added.
The last major incident regarding a U.S. Navy submarine was in 2001, when the U.S.S. Greenville crashed into a Japanese fishing vessel off the state of Hawaii. Nine people - Japanese men and boys - were killed. The commander was later reprimanded and was forced to retire.
HAHAHAHA reading your reply, my wife (Navy_Gal) is looking over my shoulder "oh yea...this is a bubblehead thread" *L*
"You can keep your nuclear power,
I take all my H'lwood showers.
It wouldn't be a strain.
There wouldn't be a Navy,
I'd be home and I'd be lazy,
If I only had a brain ..."
I would like to buy a vowel...Please!
I don't see how serving in the Military makes someone an "expert". All I stated was I agreed with the poster who wonder if someone was losing his job....
I am a Navyman too.
LSTs are designed to run aground.
That said, the captain of the SF career is toast.
I was wondering if the recent seismic activity in the general area, may have caused the topography of the sea floor to change, making the charts obsolete.
It could have been a mechanical problem with the dive planes that caused the sub to hit the bottom.
"Jam dive" and "Jam rise" casualites are drilled continuously. Planes movement is also limited at higher speeds.
The reason for the drills is the danger of failure of mechanical systems.
Whatever caused it, is certainly was no minor brush with the bottom. We may be fortunate that we didn't lose the entire crew.
I was curious how fast the subs can travel under maximum power?
Sorry classified. LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS!
I don't disagree that it's a possiblility, but it's a VERY remote one. The planes system is very robust with an emergency mode for loss of electrical power and local manual control. All modes are tested before each dive. And, only a stern planes jam could cause loss of depth control.
Again, a possiblity, but very remote. Unfortunately, these things are usually cause by human error.
In excess of 20 knots.
:)
Perhaps. If so, expect the UN to issue new undersea regulations that hamper operations by the USN and HRN shortly to "level the playing field".
Thanks! That's absolutely phenomenal.
A: Faster than I can swim.
Nuclear attack subs routinely exceed thirty knots ... it's estimated they can exceed 40 knots.
Add myself and my husband Hostel (former submariner) to your ping list please.
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