Posted on 12/29/2006 9:16:16 AM PST by AngloSaxonChristian
The nuclear-powered submarine is based at Norfolk, Virginia Two crew members of an American submarine have died after getting into trouble in Plymouth Sound. They were among four crewmen washed overboard while working on the outside casing of the USS Minneapolis-St Paul in poor weather conditions.
A rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose, a tug boat and a lifeboat were sent to the crew's aid while they were tied on to the side of the 110m (362ft) vessel.
The sailors were brought back to shore and taken by ambulance to hospital.
A spokesman for Brixham Coastguard said: "The four got into difficulties while on the outer casing of the submarine.
"They were unable to get back on board, they were tied on but getting battered about by the weather."
Two of the men appeared to be breathing with difficulty and were given CPR as they approached the shore.
They were taken to Derriford hospital in Plymouth.
The two other men were transferred to the sick bay at the HMS Drake.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman confirmed two of the crew were pronounced dead on Friday afternoon and the coroner was being informed.
A joint investigation by police, the Ministry of Defence and the military has begun.
The American nuclear-powered attack submarine, which is based in Norfolk, Virginia, was leaving the harbour in Plymouth at the time of the incident and has since continued on its journey.
The Ministry of Defence said it could not comment on what the vessel was doing in British waters.
However, submarines have to travel through the Sound to get to and from the city's Devonport Naval Base.
The submarine has a complement of 137 enlisted officers and crew and can reach speeds exceeding 25 knots (29mph). Its weapons include torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
My condolences to their families.
Leaving port? Bridge crew or lookouts getting bounced around on the sail, or were these guys actually IN the water?
bubblehead bump
"They were among four crewmen washed overboard while working on the outside casing..."
Wondering what they were doing to the hull while underway?
RIP.
There's a good chance the captain will be relieved of duty for this. In the Navy, about the only thing worse than running your vessel aground is the death of crew members.
four crewmen washed overboard while working on the outside casing ...
Sounds like they were hull techs and the vessel wasn't underway at the time. A sudden unexpected high sea state and they got slammed into the hull and perhaps knocked unconscious.Doesn't take much aspirated sea water to kill you.
Plymouth Sound is an area I regularly sail in and although it can get very choppy, the submarine was it seems inside the breakwater which protects the whole of the sound along with Plymouth and Devonport from the worst of the Atlantic weather. Very surprising when you consider they were in protected waters.
I know nothing about the Navy (I was Army) so this might be a stupid question,but....might this incident have been caused by circumstances/conditions (perhaps which arose suddenly) that the Captain could not have foreseen? Might these deaths have happened in spite of all safety procedures having been observed?
No HT's on boats. Deck div doing topside work? Possibly--but it sounds like they were actually in the harbor (read: underway) in which case they'd be line handlers. Not bridge crew, even though everyone would be wearing harnesses and K-Vests.
thanks for all the stanzas smithl. very much appreciated.
rip.
No deck division either on subs.
Sometimes A-gangers, often TM's, and weapons (off-duty) ST's - Those are the guys working the weapoons launch and "outside-non-nuke mechanical" items, so they usually take care of it. Few onboard are rated under a PO3 by the time they reach the boat.
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