Posted on 10/25/2007 7:39:15 PM PDT by blam
Nuclear Submarine Commander Removed
Friday October 26, 2007 3:16 AM
By CHELSEA J. CARTER
Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The commanding officer of the nuclear-powered submarine USS Hampton was relieved of his duty Thursday because of a loss of confidence in his leadership, the Navy said.
Cmdr. Michael B. Portland was relieved of duty after a U.S. Navy investigation found the ship failed to do daily safety checks on its nuclear reactor for a month and falsified records to cover up the omission.
``His oversight of the crew's performance did not identify these issues'' on his own, Navy Lt. Alli Myrick, a public affairs officer, told The Associated Press. Portland's commanders identified the problems during a routine review, she said.
It appears from a preliminary investigation on the Hampton that sailors in Submarine Squadron 11 had skipped the required analysis of the chemical and radiological properties of the submarine's reactor for more than a month, even though a daily check is required.
The Hampton, a Los Angeles Class submarine assigned to Submarine Squadron Eleven, is the most advanced nuclear attack submarine in the world, carrying a torpedo, cruise missile, and mine-laying arsenal, according to information on the Navy's Web site. The submarine is docked in San Diego.
Portland's dismissal as commander is effective immediately. Myrick said Portland will be temporarily assigned to squadron duty and the Hampton will not conduct operations until the Navy can confirm the operational standards have been met. Myrick said at no time was the submarine conducting unsafe operations.
``He has not been charged with any offense nor has he received non-judicial punishment,'' Myrick said.
There was no phone listing for Portland in San Diego, and the Navy did not immediately respond to an AP interview request.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Yep.
Looks like they couldn’t avoid burning just the blueshirts this time. Lots of khakis going down with them.
‘Looks like they couldn’t avoid burning just the blueshirts this time. Lots of khakis going down with them.’
Any other issue, they could just nail the blues. Not when it involves nuke, in any capacity.
Rightly so. And as some of us know, the competition for this type of a command is unbelievably tough. Long line of replacements just waiting for a change of command, or the occasional implosion of a Naval Career...which this appears to be in spades.
Glad the Navy got it right this time.
Many years ago... Aboard the tin can on which I served, I know that our CO (O-5), in whom we had a lot of confidence, was replaced by what many of us regarded to be a, um, less than inspiring leader (also an O-5).
The first CO? Bounced after making the next promotion.
The replacement? Currently a relatively famous three star Admiral.
Ugh.
What were these guys doing for the month? We are not at war requiring the use of a submarine. Were the crew just crusing around playing cards while on duty? How hard is it to just do the job you were hired to do?
Well hell, she’s been advising her dad on nuclear policy since the 70’s......
There: fixed it for you! Heh heh, BTDT. (Not radioing logs - just topside at night on the froze-over Thames River. Now I remember why I'm glad to be in Tucson!)
Let's just say that Naval Reactors isn't going to be happy that there is now an international news story that says that the crew "failed to do daily safety checks on its nuclear reactor for a month and falsified records to cover up the omission." Nope, Adm. Donald will probably not be amused.
That's a fact, burzum. The last sentence of the news article is:
'Portland will be replaced by Cmdr. William J. Houston, who previously was assigned as a special assistant to the Director of the Naval Reactors.' [my emphasis added]
It appears that Adm Donald has put one of his right-hand men in charge as Hampton's scourge. I wouldn't want to be any crewman on that boat right now, much less a nuke.
Also, from other traffic I've seen, your supposition about the dirty deed being discovered during an ORSE is correct. (ORSE, for non sub types, is Operational Reactors Safeguard Examination. It is typically scheduled at the end of extended deployments.)
I agree. Some of the items were so much a waste of time we never did them.
He was a very bad commander to let his crew slack off like that.
Those guys are beyond intense. You are talking about nuclear power, nuclear weapons in a vessel that is subject to environmental conditions beyond your comprehension. Attack boat skippers are the creme-de-la-creme. Best of the best.
I am amazed this guy got command at all.
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