Saturday, October 19, 2019

What Happens When a U.S. Navy Attack Submarine Crashes Into A 'Mountain'


National Interest: This Is What Happens When a U.S. Navy Attack Submarine Crashes Into a 'Mountain'

Well, an 'underwater mountain', that is.

Key point: A submarine vs and undersea mountain. What could go wrong?

In 2005, a U.S. Navy attack submarine collided head-on with an undersea mountain at more than thirty miles an hour. Despite the damage the ship sustained and the crew’s injuries, the USS San Francisco managed to limp to her home port of Guam on her own power. The incident was a testament to the design of the submarine and the training and professionalism of her crew.

USS San Francisco is a Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine. Submarine builder Newport News Shipyard began construction on her in 1977, and she was commissioned on April 24, 1981. The submarine joined the U.S. Pacific Fleet and served there throughout her career.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: It is amazing that this sub was not lost with its crew.

4 comments:

Bill said...

I hear that the SF has never been "right" since, in spite of the extensive repairs

Anonymous said...

Anything SF is never quite right lol

Roger Smith said...


Good one, anon. Much appreciated.

RussInSoCal said...

IIRC the collision occurred in the vicinity of the 2004 Sumatra Earthquake. It changed the underwater topography to the extent that mountains were literally moved around.

The sub was following maps based on geography that was no longer accurate. And then whammo!