The Ship Model Forum

Damaged US Sub in Port After Collision in South China Sea

In this Dec. 15, 2016, photo, provided by the U.S. Navy, the Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut departs Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for sea trials following a maintenance availability. (Thiep Van Nguyen II/U.S. Navy via AP)
8 Oct 2021
Associated Press | By Robert Burns

WASHINGTON — A U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine that was damaged in a collision with an unknown underwater object in the South China Sea last weekend has arrived in port at Guam, the Navy said Friday.

No further details about the circumstances of the collision or the extent of damage to the USS Connecticut were available, but China's Foreign Ministry expressed “serious concern” about what happened.

“As the party involved, the U.S. should clarify in detail the situation of the accident, including the location, the intention of the sailing, details of the accident, such as what exactly it collided with, whether it caused a nuclear leak, and whether it damaged the local marine environment," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters Friday.

(...SNIPPED)

Navy Fires 2 Top Officers of Submarine Damaged in Collision
4 Nov 2021
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Navy said Thursday it fired the two senior officers of a nuclear-powered attack submarine that was damaged in an underwater collision last month in the South China Sea. A sailor who served as a senior enlisted adviser to the commander and the executive officer was also removed from his position

The actions were taken by Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet, based in Japan.

“Thomas determined sound judgement, prudent decision-making and adherence to required procedures in navigation planning, watch team execution and risk management could have prevented the incident,” according to a 7th Fleet statement.

(...SNIPPED)

Navy Sub Crews Told to Stand Down After Preventable Collision in the Pacific
18 Nov 2021
Military.com | By Konstantin Toropin
The Navy has ordered all submarine crews to conduct a navigation stand down -- a period of additional training -- after an underwater collision damaged a sub in the South China Sea last month.
Cmdr. Paul Macapagal, a spokesman for the commander of all submarine forces, said crews will be reviewing lessons learned from the USS Connecticut collision as well as the Navy’s existing rules on sound navigation practices.
That will include the “required procedures in navigation planning, operations, risk management and best practices,” he said in a phone interview.
Vice Adm. William Houston and Rear Adm. Jeffrey Jablon, the Navy’s top two submarine commanders, released a joint message ordering the stand down Wednesday, but Macapagal emphasized that it will not impact submarine operations.

(...SNIPPED)

Damaged Navy Attack Submarine Arrives in San Diego After Surface Voyage from Guam

14 Dec 2021
Stars and Stripes | By Alex Wilson

The fast-attack submarine involved in an undersea collision in October completed a trip from Guam to San Diego entirely on the ocean's surface, a media report said.

The USS Connecticut pulled into San Diego on Sunday after departing Guam sometime last month, where it stopped for repairs after striking an undersea mountain in the South China Sea, according to a Tuesday report from U.S. Naval Institute News. It cited unnamed Navy officials who said the trip was made entirely along the surface.

U.S. submarines are significantly slower and more vulnerable when traveling on the surface , according to the National Museum of the U.S. Navy's website.

(...SNIPPED)