USS San Francisco collides with undersea mountain

[Flybrian]

I meant to post this awhile back but just never got around to it.

At 12 noon, January 8, Guam Time, the USS SAN FRANCISCO, SSN711, hit an uncharted undersea mountain while travelling at high speed about 500 ft below surface. The submarine was able to surface and head back to Guam. One critically injured sailor died January 9, while 23 other crewmen are treated for injuries by SEAL medical personnel that came aboard January 9. On its way back to Guam, the SAN FRANCISCO was escorted by USNS GYSGT FRED W. STOCKHAM (T-AK 3017) and USCGC GALVESTON ISLAND (WPB 1349). USNS KISKA (T-AE 35) as well as military aircraft stood by to assist if required.

USS SAN FRANCISCO arrived at Guam the afternoon of January 10. There were no reports of damage to the reactor plant which is operating normally.

The photos below show the SAN FRANCISCO dry-docked at Guam on January 27. Clearly visible is the heavy bow damage.

Be sure to ask for Genuine General Dynamics parts!

[Satty]

Damn! Thats all I have to say.

[ocnblu]

We can prolly fix it, but I doubt it will fit in our paint booths.

[Satty]

That would require a LOT of Bondo.

[ocnblu]

Did the airbags go off?

[Satty]

I bet this happened at 36,004 miles and the warranty expired at 36,000.

[Flybrian]

Did the airbags go off?

That's it? I was expecting something like, "What's long, hard, and hit a rock?"

[CSpec]

I wonder what the tarp is covering.

[ocnblu]

That's it, Fly. The phallic jokes were flying through my brain, but I'm trying hard to be a good boy.

[Nick]

about how hard would you say? :P ok...that was lame...anyways...don't submarines have a little thing called Sonar or radar which finds this type of stuff?

[Satty]

They really should have replaced the windshield wipers.

[Turbojett]

Damn. sombody's getting courtmartialed.

[Mach5GTP]

I wonder what the tarp is covering.

[post="4780"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Probably what's left of the sonar array, I imagine quite classified in nature. I'm actually a little surprise they showed these pics at all.

FWIW, I don't believe they run active sonar while cruising submerged, since it would give away their location. IIRC they rely mostly on underwater charts that are (supposed to be) ultra-accurate. I'm just a landlubber, tho... :)

[Cremazie]

They prolly have the tarp on because it's far less painful to be drydocked!

[ocnblu]

Ouch... oh my, is that a circumcision joke? :blink: