Additional pictures of damage to USS San Francisco, SSN-711

Submarine Photo Index ^

[Bean Counter]

These are additional Official Navy Photos that have been released publically and further document the damage done to the sub.

This is what the front of SSN-711 should look like in drydock.

This is a pic of SSN-711 returning to Guam after the collision. Note the bow-down attitude that results form the partially flooded forward ballast tanks.

This is a pic taken shortly after docking. Notice the disturbance in the water that results form the constant air supply to the ruptured forward ballast tanks, and is preventing the sub from sinking by the bow. Also not the buckling in the hull on the Starboard side, where it appears that the whole front of the sub has been bent to the right.

Finally, this is the remains of the sonar dome that normally encases the entire bow. Reflect onthe force required to shatter fiberglass that is this thick and heavy.

[El Gran Salseron]

Ping

[Fitzcarraldo]

From other pictures and artwork I had the impression that subs were completely flat black - I guess the black is for camoflage as seen when surfaced.

[massgopguy]

It's not paint. It's a rubber coating to cut down on noise.

[Doohickey]

It's just dirt and muck that builds up on the hull. Occasionally, they'll do a hull cleaning pierside, and obviously you have to drydock to paint.

[Doohickey]

You're right. It's a special paint that retards the growth of algae, barnacles and such. It looks dark red.

[Doohickey]

0dB ping to the usual suspects.

[VRWCTexan]

Quote "As a retired Navy SCPO, I would glady buy the Damage Control Chief on SSN-711 all the beer he could hold, just to hear his story about this..."

Amen to that and from one Vet to another thank you for your service!

This whole crew deserves a lot of praise for coming thru this accident as they did and seeing their boat back in service!

[sevry]

I wonder if it looks fairly certain though that they will just junk the boat. Wouldn't it seem they would otherwise have to tear off that front portion and literally replace it with new sections?

[Diana in Wisconsin]

My first thought was, "Poor Old Girl!" Hope they get her ship-shape and out to sea again, soon. Or is something like this a total loss? (I know little about ships.)

Nice pix, though. Thanks for posting. One of the most exciting things I've ever seen was when we were out Whale Watching (on a rather large boat) in San Diego Bay and a Navy sub surfaced about 100 feet away from us. Seeing that up close was so awesome, and was even more impressive than all of the whales we saw that day though the Whale Salad Sammiches we had for lunch were quite tasty! (Oh, just kiddin'!) :)

[antisocial]

Thanks for the ping. More good pictures.

USS Grenadier SS 525

[Danae]

Admirals Commendations all around for those guys!!!!!!!!!

God Bless the Crew of the San Francisco!!!

[Danae]

Hear hear!! Once he is done with your first round, I will buy him and all those guys all they can hold. The 22% Guinness they serve in Scotland no less!

[Last Dakotan]

The Chinese will gladly buy the scrap metal.

[Woodman]

Someone on the other thread said they were slowly retiring this class of Submarine and suggested they just move this one up on the list. It makes sense to just part it out for some others still in service, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's what they did.

[WildTurkey]

when we were out Whale Watching

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Neat gif! :)

[PogySailor]

Sadly, I think she's going to be razor blades soon.

BTW, would you add another Pogy ex-crewman ( OCCASparky ) to your "Steely-Eyed Killers of the Deep" ping list?

[newgeezer]

And for the wise guys in the crowd, again, Please show a modicum of respect

With all due respect, our guys are being positively reverent compared to some. I inadvertently stumbled upon this as I was searching for information about the incident:

USS San Francisco Runs Aground; Hazelwood Blamed

[75thOVI]

If everything goes right, a nuke boat will never be seen on the surface. (Except entering and leaving port.) The red starts right down the middle. It's a fairly uncomplicated scheme. Now my boat had sharks teeth painted on the bow!

[Tarantulas]

USS Snook (SSN592) was always completely black from top to bottom, bow to stern. In drydock they would sandblast off all the old paint and marine growth, and repaint it black. I heard that there was arsenic in the paint to keep the barnacles off, but if so they would have evacuated the shipyard during painting so I doubt that was true. Here are a couple more San Franciso pics:







The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS San Francisco (SSN 711) is in dry dock in Apra Harbor, Guam, January 27, 2005 to assess damage sustained after running aground approximately 350 miles south of Guam Jan. 8, 2005. The Navy former dry dock known as 'Big Blue' is capable of docking ships that weigh up to 40,000 Long Tons. The Navy certified Big Blue for the one-time docking of San Francisco. San Francisco is the second fast-attack submarine to be attached to the forward-deployed Submarine Squadron Fifteen, home ported on board Naval Base Guam.