Stock photos
USS San Fransico
Compare the stock 688 photos with the USS SF and compare the freeboard. That sub is hurtin'.
Posted on 01/08/2005 3:19:47 AM PST by 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
Sonat sphere itself is flooded, lost at least two, maybe 4 of the 6 main ballast tanks forward.
The fwd hull on a 688 is usually "up" at almost a 8-10 degree slant, with about 1/5 of the GRP sonat dome exposed - all of that is underwater in this picture.
Look at a photo of a "normal" 688 floating: you'll see an amazing difference.
My son called last night about 1:30 am MST and said the sub made it into Port.
This was a bad collision and a traumatic experience for them all. They are lucky to be alive.
I had the pleasure of meeting CAPT Ned Beach once. We had touched briefly on the subject of THRESHER and he was irritated by the way the Navy had renamed the class.
He thought it to be a slap at those on eternal patrol THRESHER and a way of 'erasing' history.
Ever read "The THRESHER Disaster"? Her Reactor Control Officer, LCDR McCoole (then a LT) was pretty outspoken on the shabby work done on her at Portsmouth. McCoole was a Mustang, an IC man that was an ITC(SS) aboard NAUTILUS than was commissioned.
He was critical of the workmanship in THRESHER to the brass right after her accident, as a result his career was shot to hell.
Yeah, she took a beating---trimmed down pretty far forward would be an understatement.
An answer to prayer. I'm so glad and relieved your son is o.k. and he was able to give you a call.
Luck and in no small measure the training and dedication of your son and the rest of San Fran's crew. Prayers to all.
Although I am no longer a submariner officially, I'm still a submariner at heart, and that heart goes out to my shipmates on the San Fran. I served with a sonarman who transferred over to the San Fran as she was leaving for Guam.
A few weeks before that happened, there was another death on that boat. An FT died in his sleep while underway. They found him in his rack when he didn't report for watch. Almost like that boat has a curse on it or something.
God bless the men of the San Francisco. God bless the men of the Silent Service.
AMEN STS2/SS USS Glenard P. Lipscomb
Stock photos
USS San Fransico
Compare the stock 688 photos with the USS SF and compare the freeboard. That sub is hurtin'.
Yes, I remember very well all of the heat the yardbirds took over the Thresher and the subsequent "investigations" that took place and all of the finger-pointing because of the "poor workmanship."
She's so far out of trim there nearly isn't any freeboard.
The damage must be unreal.
Kudos for getting her home, for sure. They sure had their hands full.
A friend of the family was a yardbird at EB when THRESHER went for permanent repair following her damage by a tug at Port Canveral. He said the same thing about all the problems THRESHER had with PNSY workmanship. I felt that he was being honest, but wasn't sure how much rivalry between EB and PNSY figured into it.
The damage must be unreal.
Yes. The collision was to the bow and the outer hull is heavily damaged. My son said they had to run it with the nose slightly down. You'll have to excuse my ignorance about the parts of a boat; I was Army and a draftee at that.
My son said everybody worked very hard getting her back to port. He worked 33 hours before grabbing a few winks and then somebody dropped something on the deck above his rack and he jumped out of his rack before he realized that they were running on the surface and very slow.
Thank God the crew survived to be able to tell this story.
God bless the soul of the sailor who died and may his family find peace of mind.
Gotta run; ranch work to do; will be back in a few hours.
You have nothing to apologise for---I'm glad that your son is OK. Please be sure to let him know that he and his shipmates are VERY much in all our prayers. Their hard work bringing SAN FRANCISCO home makes all submariners proud of them.
G-D bless!
FAS
This is appropriate:
Almighty, Everlasting God,
the Protector of all those who put their trust in Thee:
hear our prayers in behalf of Thy servants
who sail their vessels beneath the seas.
We beseech Thee to keep in Thy sustaining care
all who are in submarines,
that they may be delivered
from the hidden dangers of the deep.
Grant them courage,
and a devotion to fulfill their duties,
that they may better serve Thee and their native land.
Though acquainted with the depths of the ocean,
deliver them from the depths of despair
and the dark hours of the absence of friendliness
and grant them a good ship's spirit.
Bless all their kindred and loved ones
from whom they are separated.
When they surface their ships,
may they praise Thee for Thou art there
as well as in the deep.
Fill them with Thy Spirit
that they may be sure in their reckonings,
unwavering in duty,
high in purpose,
and upholding the honor of their nation.
Amen
the submariner's prayer - author unknown
It depends on the results of the investigation. If it is determined there were no obstructions mapped in the area and there was no way the incident could have been anticipated, the officer's career will not be adversely affected. Even so, I imagine he feels awful about it happening. My prayers and thoughts are with all of them.
IIRC, there were some severe (union) labor problems while the Thresher was being built. I'd heard from a couple sources that the loss was caused by a valve stem being cut most of the way through.
That picture is amazing.
The forward MBT's must be barely operational. 688's sit really high forward. I can tell by the snorkel mast being bumped and the bubbly wake forward that they must have the LP blower on the tanks continuously.
These guys just proved American seamanship is the best in world. It must have been a super hard job to get that boat in port.
Hats off to every one of them, and God bless the casualties of this tragedy.
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