Navy photos of Submarine USS San Francisco in Dry Dock (you won't believe the extent of damage!)

U.S. Navy ^

[Boot Hill]

The amount of damage is simply staggering!

That this boat ever made it back to port is a tribute to its designers, builders, and especially to the crew and captain. How does America keep finding men like these?

High resolution version here

High resolution version here

[Boot Hill]

If you look carefully, you'll notice warping and buckling of the hull, aft of the main damage area. That was also seen in this photo of SSN 711.

[Pyro7480]

Wow, the sonar dome is basically gone.

[Blzbba]

This is hardly surprising, given that they literally ran into a mountain.

[Bahbah]

Man oh man, have you seen this. I have to think that the Captain and the crew of this vessel did an incredible job.

[xrp]

Any sub experts out there? I wonder if the sub would be considered a total loss.

[AngryJawa]

Holy crap!

[lafroste]

That's incredible. I never would have guessed it could take that kind of damage and still get to port. How deep was it when it hit?

[Blueflag]

Can you say "scrap metal?"

Kudos to the constructors and crew.

[Darkwolf377]

Gonna need more nose work than Michael Jackson.

[Michael_Michaelangelo]

hahahahahahaha

[JeeperFreeper]

My thoughts eggzackly. Workmanship in the design, metallurgy and boatyard combined with sterling seamanship prevented a flatout sinking.

[paws_and_whiskers]

Amazing!

[Calpernia]

The amount of damage is simply staggering!

That this boat ever made it back to port is a tribute to its designers, builders, and especially to the crew and captain. How does America keep finding men like these?

[WildTurkey]

I am not sure I see buckling of the hull. Basically, if the pressure hull remains intact, the submarine can remain neutrally bouyant while underwater. Damage to the exterior ballast tanks hinders the ability to surface and remain on the surface. That is the damage we see to the sonar and forward ballast tanks.

Looks like a "glancing blow". Another 20 feet to the right and we would still not know about the unknown sea mount.

[WestCoastGal]

Wow

ping

[Pyro7480]

Their lives were saved also because of the measures the Navy took after the loss of the Thresher and the Scorpion.

[OXENinFLA]

HOLY CR@P!!!!!!

[Tennessee_Bob]

At least it'll look better than he does when it's done.

[Jeeper]

A true testament to the crew, their Captian and the engineers that designed it.
An incredible feat to keep it from sinking, let alone return to port.

[roaddog727]

Just Damn!

[OXENinFLA]

Looks like it didn't hit it head on but at an angle.

[Hank Rearden]

Gonna need more nose work than Michael Jackson.

It'll cost less to set this sub right than MJ's nose, too.

[sheik yerbouty]

Holy crap!

[RightWhale]

I wonder if the sub would be considered a total loss

Likely

[Pan_Yans Wife]

ping

[1Old Pro]

No wonder there were so many head injuries and contusions, it must have relly thrown people on impact. Makes me wonder if certain people "driving" and important to navigation are harnessed in.

[blackie]

Remarkable story and pictures!

[najida]

How did they get home like that!

PS, slap me silly and call me Bertha, but does anyone have the link to the story about what happened??

[Arrowhead1952]

submarinerswife, look at this.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Amazing they got the Boat back home!

[steve in DC]

About half way between those two people you will see the walkway go up and over a speedbump.

That speedbump was not in the original design!

That's the buckling.

[jude24]

Wow. Looking at the amount of damage on that ship, one can only be amazed.

Obviously, the Navy has got to investigate the captain to ensure that he didn't screw up at all. Since the mountain is not on their charts, I think he'll probably be cleared if there is no way he could be blamed for this. If the Navy can find that he was in no way to blame for the sub hitting the mountain, the very fact that he got it back is a testament to his seamanship, and that of his crew. If he made no mistake in the accident, than getting it back to port was nothing short of heroic and he deserves a medal.

Wow.

[justshutupandtakeit]

I'll proudly say my elder son will be on one of these before the year is out as a Nuke. God Bless our Military.

[Martin Tell]

Amazing pics.

I haven't heard too much about this story. How did the sub hit the underwater mountain? Is the captain facing charges?

[Tempest]

Nope it was the engineers and the people who built it was the captain that ran it into a mountain =^)

[Fierce Allegiance]

Damn, the tarp did that much damage?

Just kidding. Prayers for the families of the lost crewmen and the injured.

[MEG33]

Ping...really looks frightening to me.

[Boot Hill]

The Navy reported the depth as 525 feet.

[ken5050]

Why?..they're all modular construction....just cut off the nose section..add a new one..

[maestro]

....Looks like it ran into the Grand Canyon?

[SmithL]

The crew complains about the drills, but when it hits the fan, knowing exactly what to do makes all the difference between life and death. Kudos to CDR Mooney and the crew.

[Rightly Biased]

BTTT

[sonofatpatcher2]

GAD!

[Charles Martel]

I am not sure I see buckling of the hull.

Look at the orange construction fence; the walkway to which it is affixed goes "up and over" a bulge in the hull.

[RightWhale]

Cut off the nose all the way back to the sail. Might as well build a new sub. Just like a bent fender on a unibody van totals the vehicle.

[OXENinFLA]

OK that was funny.........

[Boot Hill]

"I am not sure I see buckling of the hull."

Top photo, just aft the forward yard worker, look at the shadows, it is buckled up. Also, see the photo I linked to in reply #1.

--Boot Hill

[MEG33]

Put "submarine" in search title/date on the top of the browse page. Many threads/articles on this .

[Gucho]

Bump - Thank you, I'll have to post it on PF.

[Wheee The People]

No way they survived that...what an act of courage, training and I dare say luck!