[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

050121-N-0000X-001 Yokosuka, Japan (Jan. 21, 2005) – Official Navy portrait of Cmdr. Kevin Mooney. The commander of U.S. 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, has directed that the commanding officer of USS San Francisco (SSN 711), Cmdr. Kevin Mooney, be reassigned pending the results of an investigation into the sub’s grounding during operations in the Western Pacific Ocean, Jan. 20. Mooney is reassigned to Submarine Squadron Fifteen, based in Guam, pending the results of an investigation to determine the cause of the sub’s grounding Jan. 8 that resulted in the death of one Sailor and injuries to 23 others. Cmdr. Andrew Hale, Submarine Squadron 15 deputy commander, will assume the duties as commanding officer of San Francisco. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)

[7.62 x 51mm]

The end of his career. Sad.

[newsgatherer]

bump

[ProudVet77]

That's a lot of ribbons for a sub sailor.
I suspect more heads will role. Sad, I know someone who served under him (when he was an engineering officer) and he said he was a really good officer. By the book, but fair and friendly.
Don't know that we will ever know the whole truth.

[mylife]

What about the Naviguesser?

[El Gran Salseron]

This is already old news but probably worth a ping. This report indicates that Cmdr. Mooney did not follow "proper procedures" for "steaming."

[demlosers]

During the conduct of the investigation into this incident, it became clear to Greenert that several critical navigational and voyage planning procedures were not being implemented aboard San Francisco. By not ensuring these standard procedures were followed, Mooney hazarded his vessel.

When you cut corners, don't eff up.

[mc6809e]

What bothers me most about this is how this guy is supposed to assume that, with all the high-tech gear we've had for 20+ years, the navy hasn't given him a fvcking current map.

So who really is to blame? Who is it that would guide the navy to modernize it's maps and to take advantage of the latest technology?

That responsibility doesn't lie with a sub commander. It lies with those on top, with the Admirals.

How many of them are getting reprimands for being idiots?

Hey Admiral moron: the tech has existed for years to give your people decent maps. What the hell are you waiting for?

[Piquaboy]

Captain Kennedy of the USS Oldsmobile (SSN666) did not suffer any punishment for the sinking of his ship along with loss of life of his crew mate.

[angkor]

Anyone know what happened with the Sam Houston before it was decommissioned? I heard it had a scrape or two, but not from the guy I know who was an officer on it in the 70's.

I hope this Cmdr. Mooney wasn't trying to draw Mickey Mouse images on his chart plotter.

[SubMareener]

Prior Thread on same report.

[DustyMoment]

There is precedent fore the Navy to blame the skipper of a ship for the Navy's shotcomings. In the late 60's, when the N. Kopreans hijacked the USS Pueblo in international waters, CDR. "Pete" Bucher was held accountable for the loss of his ship and the classified material it carried aboard.

Prior to beginning his ill-fated South China Sea patrol, he had expressed strong concerns to the CNO about the amout of classified material aboard his ship. The Pueblo was so overloaded with classified material, the crew had to stuff it it the overhead on top of pipes and wiring because there wasn't enough room to store it properly.

Bucher complained to his superiors about the amount of material several times between leaving Hawaii and his arrival in Japan. Not only did they ignore his requests, even after he expressed concerns that, in the event it became necessary, the crew would not have enough time to properly destroy the classified material, when he got to Japan, MORE classified material was loaded aboard the ship.

When the N. Koreans finally released Bucher and his crew after 11 months of captivity, Bucher was charged with violating military regs and court-martialed. The court-martial board acquitted him but, sadly enough, his career was over.

Buscher stayed in the Navy a few more years, but never really got fair treatment after the Pueblo incident and the court-martial. When he retired, it was generally acknowledged that he was being forced out and that he career had ended after his court martial.

The entire Pueblo affair is nothing if not a well-documented story of senior Navy officers covering their brass at the expense of a less senior officer.

[Cicero]

An earlier article says that the most recent chart didn't show the seamount, but that an earlier one showed a "discolored" spot in the water (maybe observed by an aircraft?).

It's normal practice to use the most recent charts. I've used nautical charts all my life, and it would be extremely unusual to pull out older charts for comparison on a regular basis. Not unless you had some reason for doubt or were navigating a tricky harbor or channel, which doesn't seem to be the case here.

So I wouldn't fault the commander on that basis. The fault was with whoever was responsible for updating the chart. That person either should have kept the "discolored" notation or made some effort to ascertain whether there was anything there by either confirming or refuting the original doubtful report.

Whether he was derelict in any other way, I don't know. Sure, the captain is responsible for his ship, but that assumes he has an opportunity even to make a decision before the event is over.