Koursk submarine disaster revisited

by narcis monturiol Mon Jan 10, 2005 10:39

A U.S. sailor died of injuries sustained after a nuclear submarine ran aground in the Pacific, officials said Sunday as the vessel limped back to port in Guam.

Twenty-three other crew on the USS San Francisco were being treated "for a range of injuries including broken bones, lacerations, bruises and a back injury," following the accident on Friday, Petty Officer Alyssa Batarla said.

The accident occurred when the vessel was conducting underwater operations 560 kilometers south of its base at Guam, the navy said.

The submarine was due to arrive back in port on Monday. An investigation into the accident has already started, officials said.

The navy said the submarine's nuclear plant had not been damaged and its hull was still intact.

The submarine was heading back to base under its own steam, but on the surface.

The grounding occurred as the Los Angeles class submarine with its crew of 137 was heading for a port visit in Brisbane, Australia.

At approximately 4 p.m. Friday Hawaii Standard Time (0200 GMT Saturday), about 560 km (350 miles) south of Guam.

"There were no reports of damage to the reactor plant, which is operating normally," the U.S. Navy said in a statement Saturday. Officials said the hull of the vessel was intact.

Los Angeles class submarines are 110 meters long and have one nuclear reactor and one shaft, according to US Navy data.

Submarines of that class are able to get on station quickly, stay for an extended period of time and carry out a variety of missions including deployment of special forces, minelaying, and precision land attacks.

The USS San Francisco is one of three submarines of its class to be based in Guam. It has been there since 2002. It can carry out intelligence gathering and take special forces on missions. Its strike arms usually include Tomahawk missiles. (Wire reports)

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=7&id=324276
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/10/content_2437778.htm
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,11895692%255E663,00.html

by narcis monturiol Mon Jan 10, 2005 10:51

was the disaster of USS S4, which during routine training exercises off of Long Point Massacheussets On Saturday, 17 December 1927, after departing Provincetown surfaced to collide with the bows of United States Coast Guard Cutter "CG-17"...the former United States Navy destroyer USS Paulding (DD-22), which was on loan to the Coast Guard to prevent rum-running during Prohibition.

The submarine was manned with her designed compliment of 38 officers and men.

No officer or sea-man survived, and subsequently the US navy implemented salvage changes, (adding eyelets on the hull to assist lifting). After the colision or ramming, the S4 had followed the order of the Captain to dive, but severely damaged lay on the mud at less than 100 meteres for a further length of time, whilst frantic rescue efforts failed due to extra-ordinary bad weather conditions.

No officer was court martialed for the disaster, and indeed if the regulations of the US Navy and international maritime law had been adhered to, USS S4 ought to have been accompanied by a surface vessel throughout the trial flying the internationally recognised "submerged vessel" flag.

article ideas - me salties - har har -
http://thesaltysailor.com/s-boats/s4.htm