U.S. Vessels Collide in Strait of Hormuz, Navy Says

Wall Street Journal Online ^ | MARCH 20, 2009 | Associated Press

[bankcritic]

MANAMA, Bahrain -- Two U.S. Navy vessels, a nuclear-powered submarine and an amphibious ship, collided before dawn Friday in the mouth of the Persian Gulf, one of the world's most important sea passages for oil supplies.

There was no damage to the sub's nuclear propulsion system and no disruption to shipping in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil passes, said Navy spokesman Lt. Nate Christensen, with the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet.

Still, the unusual collision between members of the same navy sparked a sudden rise in oil prices -- which had been declining on the day -- even though the strait remained open.

[bankcritic]

The Sub was submerged at the time of the collision, I expect the collision was the fault of the submarine, however its hard to say. One thing for certain, a few people are losing their postings over this one.

[library user]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2211098/posts

[napscoordinator]

Being in the Navy, this is sad for me. What I mean is that I don’t like to see any Sailor getting into a situation that is embarassing for them (unless it was self induced like taking drugs or being a thief). These CO made a misjudgement and will forever be known for this one act. I wish them the best and glad that noone was hurt or killed in this mishap. I know some feel differently from my thoughts, but I guess I am too close to the situation. Keep in mind, that these CO’s now have less Sailors than they used to...The Navy is getting smaller and smaller everyday and will only get worse. When I joined 22 years ago (in June), we had over 600,000 Sailors...now we are heading towards 315,000 (in 2010). The Navy announced another 3,000 cuts amonth (Chief, Senior Chief, and Master Chief in 2010)...things are getting pretty bad in the Navy...personnel wise and don’t even get me started on the Aircraft Carrier situation...lol.

[Tarpon]

Yeah, the sub has all the gear and means to detect and avoid ships. Not so much the surface ships.

[NavyCanDo]

In 1978 my ship the carrier USS SARATOGA (CV 60) and the USS WACCAMAW collided during a night time refueling operation 50 miles south of Crete, Greece. Ripped off about 50 feet of catwalk. We were lucky no body was standing in them watching the refueling. And the catwalk was along side our bomb farm wear we station weapons for the morning sorties. They were missed being hit by inches.

The bright side of the incident is it got us a week in Palermo, Sicily for repairs. Great place for a 20 year old with a pocket full of cash.

This was the second time the WACCAMAW hit a ship she was refueling.

[JimRed]

At least one, possibly two careers ended. Thank God no sailors were killed or seriously injured.

[Jacquerie]

Navy O-6 Commanding Officers normally get retired or worse for collisions, groundings.

My question to the other services, what does it take for USAF/USA bird Colonels to receive similar discipline?

[packrat35]

Get caught in bed with a live boy or dead girl!

[Thrownatbirth]

That's remarkably similar to the collision where a submerged NEWPORT NEWS hit a Japanese supertanker near the Straights in 2007.

New ops guidelines to follow....

[08bil98z24]

What I mean is that I don’t like to see any Sailor getting into a situation that is embarassing for them (unless it was self induced like taking drugs or being a thief)

The only thing embarrassing about drugs is the unconstitutional scheduling laws and the even more unconstitutional WOD.

When I joined 22 years ago (in June), we had over 600,000 Sailors...now we are heading towards 315,000 (in 2010).

How many ships are more automated now then when you first enlisted?

I have no first hand knowledge (actually being on a ship or working for the Navy)other than what I have read (knowledge is power)and from information I've gotten from a bunch of my friends in the Navy ... I'm under the impression that more and more newer ships are much more automated ...

[A.A. Cunningham]

She could have lost her sail.

[Richard Kimball]

Did you REALLY have to post 10 megs of photos?

[A.A. Cunningham]

Yes, in order to see the detail of the damage to the sail. You don’t like it, too bad.

[Richard Kimball]

Doesn't make any difference to me, but you screwed any Freepers on dial up or with a slow connection who wanted to see the thread. It bogs down their system, and you could have put a link for people who wanted to see it, or downloaded it from the web site, cropped to the significant part, and then reduced the quality to where it would have been a couple of hundred kilobytes.

What you did was rude. If everyone posted as thoughtlessly as you, the site would slow to a complete crawl.

[ogghall]

Hartford also ran aground in 2003 off La Maddelina. Captain and Commadore wern’t seen after that one. Think boat is jinxed?