Posted on 05/08/2005 11:04:27 AM PDT by nuconvert
Navy: Sub Crash Could Have Been Avoided
Sunday, May 08, 2005
HONOLULU — The crew of an attack submarine that struck an undersea mountain in the Pacific Ocean earlier this year did not adequately review navigation charts that warned of an obstacle in the vessel's path, according to a Navy report released Saturday.
The USS San Francisco (search) was en route to Australia (search) when the accident occurred Jan. 8 about 360 miles southeast of Guam, killing one sailor and injuring 97 others.
Had the submarine's crew "complied with requisite procedures and exercised prudent navigation practices," the grounding could have been avoided, the 124-page report said. "Even if not wholly avoided, however, the grounding would not have been as severe and loss of life may be been prevented."
The submarine hit the mountain while submerged 525 feet below the ocean's surface. The mountain did not appear on the chart being used for navigation.
Other charts, however, clearly displayed "a navigation hazard in the vicinity of the grounding," the report said. The San Francisco's navigation team "failed to review those charts adequately and transfer pertinent data to the chart being used for navigation, as relevant directives and the ship's own procedures required."
Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph A. Ashley (search), 24, of Akron, Ohio, suffered severe head injuries in the collision and died the next day.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I'd say it's more than similar.
It's the same one with a different title
...and yet I found it.
Weird, huh.
Here is a link to an earlier discusssion. There are a couple of photos showing the amount of damage. It's a wonder the sub didn't sink.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1330034/posts
"Sub Crash Could Have Been Avoided"
All crashes could have been avoided if hindsight is used in their evaluation!
LoL...
No doubt there would not have been an accident if the Captain had gotten approval for the route prior to embarking, which used to be the standard procedure a few years ago. Also, they were hitailing it to a liberty port at high speed at a depth of 500 feet- not a good idea. Also, the Navy took away the job of quartermaster-the guys who knew charts- and put the job as another duty for some poor overloaded technician.
Waiting for the requisite safety stand down for the navigators.....
It's sad just the same.
If the depth of this sub-sea mountain wad more than the dept of the sub, the sub's commander might have been acting in a prudent manner. Just my opinion.
No. I don't believe it.
You have a submarine and an underwater mountain.
They HAVE to crash into each other. (duh)
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