Submarine Commander Is Relieved From Post

Newsday ^ | February 13, 2005 | Associated Press

[AncientAirs]

TOKYO -- The commander of an attack submarine that ran aground in the western Pacific Ocean last month has been relieved from his post after an investigation found that critical safety procedures were overlooked.

[AncientAirs]

Wow. Is this possible? That a nuclear attack submarine has SOP that are optional to the commander?

[exnavy]

Yes.

[Banjoguy]

Re: Tagline. Do you mean Kilroy?

[konaice]

It should be pointed out that virtually NO Ship commander in the US navy survives a grounding. Its just not allwoed.

[battlegearboat]

Dittos, but be prepared to get flamed from the lubbers for making such a statement.

[exnavy]

Yes

[SkyPilot]

It should be pointed out that virtually NO Ship commander in the US navy survives a grounding.

Very true. No Air Force pilot will survive a taxi incident either (i.e. a wingtip hitting a light pole or other ground obstruction).

Any safety board will dissect a crew, be they of a maritime or aviation nature. From what they ate 72 hours prior to what color underwear they donned that morning, the safety board is charged to declare "findings"---and believe me they will discover them (real or imagined). No safety board chaired by a flag officer is going to issue a final report that says: "This just happened, as mistakes sometimes do, and there is really nothing that we should implement to prevent it in the future."

[JOE43270]

I know that too. I was having a supposed debate in another place on this site when they were comparing Cmdr Mooney to Mchales Navy and disrecpecting the Sailor that died. I'll stand beside Cmdr Mooney through all of this and I believe that he understood long ago that if this ever happened he would lose his command. God Bless them All and what they do for all of us.

[ProudVet77]

Don't waste your breath, errr typing, on them. They don't have a clue.

[JOE43270]

Some things I learn the hard way. I agree with you 100%.

[Shellback Chuck]

The captain has ultimate responsibility over all incidents that occur on his "watch".

[A.A. Cunningham]

San Francisco Skipper Relieved of Command

[AncientAirs]

"The investigation into the incident found 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,' the statement said."

I was surprised that any one man (here Cmdr Mooney) could waive SOPs. That there would not be some sort of redundant controls to immediately notify higher ups of skipped SOPs that might endanger the vessel. After all, this is a nuclear attack vessel.

Thanks.

[Shellback Chuck]

I was on a ship once that was pulling a hydrophone array off the coast of Norway. The captain (or master in this case) spent about an hour bickering with the shore facility on a new heading due to heavy seas. In the course of all his griping we inadvertently left our OPAREA and then lost our array on the shallow ocean floor.

So in answer to your question, Yes it is possible for a captain to circumvent SOP through negligence, accident or just stupidity. But he will be held accountable as he is the ultimate authority on the vessel.

[exnavy]

Actually there is a lot of "discretionary" parts to SOP on any naval vessel, if nothing goes wrong, no problem. One little screw up and the captain is ultimately responsible.