Nuclear Submarine Runs Aground South of Guam

The Associated Press ^ | Jan 8, 2005 | The Associated Press

[Jet Jaguar]

HONOLULU (AP) - A nuclear submarine ran aground about 350 miles south of Guam, injuring several sailors, one of them critically, the Navy said.

There were no reports of damage to the USS San Francisco's reactor plant, which was operating normally, the Navy said.

Jon Yoshishige, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet based at Pearl Harbor, said the Friday afternoon incident is under investigation and the 360-foot submarine was headed back to its home port in Guam.

Details on the sailors' injuries were not immediately available. The sub has a crew of 137, officials said.

Military and Coast Guard aircraft from Guam were en route to monitor the submarine and assist if needed, the Navy said.

Guam is a U.S. territory about 3,700 miles southwest of Hawaii.

---

On the Net:

U.S. Pacific Fleet: http://www.cpf.navy.mil

AP-ES-01-08-05 0343EST

[StAnDeliver]

"This is going on your
permanent record!"

[Boot Hill]

8	“A nuclear submarine ran aground about 350 miles south of Guam...”

According to the location provided in the article, 350 miles south of Guam would place the incident within the Federated States of Micronesia in the Caroline Island chain that consists of many dozens of very small atolls and shoals. Based on the bearing provided, the most likely location is in an area bounded by the islands of Faraulep, Woleai and Ifalik. By using the scroll bars to center the map below, you should be able to easily locate Guam and the Caroline Islands mentioned.

Note that in Navy tradition, it doesn't matter who is at fault for this grounding, the captain's career is over, period, end of argument.

--Boot Hill

[Doohickey]

The deck logs from that were required reading before we did our transit.

[judicial meanz]

Unless its changed, the naval charts on file from that region are horrible.

They were made in the early 1900's, IIRC.

[PogySailor]

There are several modes that the fathometer can work, including a "secure" mode. Plus the fact that it's a high frequency narrow beamwidth signal going straight down sort of limits the detection range.

[dread78645]

After he explains all this and gets knocked down several ranks, he will then be mustered out of the navy or put somewhere they will never hear from him again.

Unless he did something particularly stupid, he'll be allowed to retire if he wants. Most SS(B)N Captains have well over 20 years before they ever get command.

[judicial meanz]

It was a wake-up going there from the boat I came from.

I loved the 579. I tolerated the 712...LOL

[deaconjim]

I haven't read the entire thread yet, but I do feel the need to provide some input.

Having served on two submarines, both of which grounded, I might have some knowledge to impart.
A submarine can reverse, but depending on how well grounded they are, might need tug boats to get out (a sandbar, for instance can be hard to get off of. Took four tugs and the main engine on the 627 to get us off the sandbar in the Cooper River in Charleston). The San Francisco, however, apparently grounded doing submerged operations, and would therefore have the ability to surface (hopefully) and would need no assistance.
As for the sonar, submarines rarely ever use active sonar. Passive sonar works quite well. The ocean floor has been well charted, and the ship's navigation system can pinpoint its location very well. That being said, I've seen the ocean floor suddenly rise to within 6 feet of our keel in a place where the water should have been much deeper, and then go back down just as fast. The ocean floor changes frequently.
As for the captain, neither of the skippers on the two boats that I served on were relieved of their commands because of the incidents. Inquiries were held, and neither skipper was found to be at fault, even though the skipper of the 627 had the helm (they do drive, by the way) at the time of the incident.

[jriemer]

Possibly unrelated facts:

Intruding Chinese sub first circled Guam in suspected military drill [nuke to Marianas, then Japan] FR 12/09/2004

"Family members of the crew of USS San Francisco got the chance to welcome loved ones as the submarine returned home Dec. 1 after a two-month deployment.

It was the crew's first operational deployment since the boat's arrival on Guam in December 2002. Capt. Brad Gehrke, commanding officer for Commander, Submarine Squadron 15, was pleased with their performance."

USS San Francisco returns from deployment (to Guam) - Guam Pacific Daily News 12/10/2004

[hershey]

Me, too.

[mudblood]

"Note that in Navy tradition, it doesn't matter who is at fault for this grounding, the captain's career is over, period, end of argument."

Except in those cases where that statement wasn't true, as folks have listed above.

[Fester Chugabrew]

. . . but the sea floor may have just changed.

That would be an excellent explanation from the Captain's point of view. "That chunk of land just appeared out of nowhere."

[borntobeagle]

The San Fran went to the yards in 90-91-92, for upgrades, IIRCC.

[lemura]

Well, I read Tom Clancy's book "Submarine".

I think you and submarinerswife have been trolled. I had the same reaction as you two when I first saw that repsonse, but then I got to thinking (always a dangerous thing) that no one could be that dense as to refer to a novel when discussing a technical subject with obvious experts.

Actually, it's quite ingenious: pick any number of the types of technical threads one commonly sees at FR, say aerospace, science, firearms/munitions, etc. and become engaged with some of the more direct/specific posters. (Usually they will be quite sincere about the factual matters at hand.)

As they begin to attack you for your obviously uninformed viewpoints, bring on the coup de grâce: Well, I might not have any first-hand experience, but I read it in a book! Then sit back and enoy the reactions (as this thread can attest).

[CrazyIvan]

It's been done. The NR-1, a "research" sub has wheels to skim along the bottom. Once early in it's career the crew ran it off an underwater cliff and really stuck it in the mud. If they had blown tanks and dropped all ballast it could have made an uncontrolled ascent, a bad thing. They blew as positive as they dared and ran back and forth until they broke the suction of he mud.

[Doohickey]

I was on the 681, 671 and 669. I couldn't wait to get off the 712. We had a terrific crew, great CO and XO. The boat was just cursed. Even the skipper became a believer.

[IMRight]

Dang, I hate when other people can think first thing in the morning. How obvious is this?

Not so obvious as you would think... most people (even in the Navy) don't think in three dimension.

It even caught that ubergenius Khan Noonian Singh. :)

[mudblood]

"As for the captain, neither of the skippers on the two boats that I served on were relieved of their commands because of the incidents. Inquiries were held, and neither skipper was found to be at fault, even though the skipper of the 627 had the helm (they do drive, by the way) at the time of the incident."

Thanks, you're just encouraging me though :)
Score: couch potatoes 3, know-it-alls 0

I'm leaving now, you others can continue with your mystic scrying of the future. And yeah, I'm being a jerk today, my apologies.

[judicial meanz]

Trust me...I was too.

[Boot Hill]

In 1983, the nuclear powered aircraft carrier Enterprise ran aground in San Francisco Bay. At the time of the grounding, the harbor pilot was in complete control of the carrier as it entered the Mare Island Naval facility. The Captain still lost his command, which essentially ended his career.

--Boot Hill