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| US Navy: 2 vessels collide in Strait of Hormuz |
| 2009-03-20 |
| MANAMA, Bahrain -- Two U.S. Navy vessels -- a submarine and an amphibious ship -- collided during the early morning hours Friday in the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the Arabian peninsula, the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet reported. The military said in a statement that the incident occurred around 1:00 a.m. local time on Friday (5 p.m. EDT, Thursday), when the USS Hartford, a submarine, and the USS New Orleans, an amphibious ship, collided. According to the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, 15 sailors aboard the Hartford were slightly injured but able to return to duty. No injuries were reported aboard the New Orleans. Both ships were heading to port when the incident occurred in the narrow strait, said Lt. Nate Christensen. He said the incident occurred at night, and the submarine was submerged at the time, but said he could give no further details as the incident is still under investigation. Both vessels are now heading to port for repairs and evaluation, but Christensen said that following standard security procedures he could not say where the vessels were heading. The New Orleans suffered a ruptured fuel tank, resulting in an oil spill of approximately 25,000 gallons (95,000 liters) of diesel fuel. There was no damage the nuclear reactor powering the Hartford, Christensen said. Both ships are currently operating under their own power. The Navy said both ships were on regularly scheduled deployments to the region and conducting security operations. The Hartford is based in Groton, Conn. and the New Orleans is based in San Diego, Calif., the Navy said. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #12 No, I don't think it'd be that. Subs have used the shadowing tactic before, using merchants. The question is whether or not it was a coordinated action that went awry, or that the 'gator was unaware. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2009-03-20 22:18 |
| #11 Drat Pappy - sounds likely, which would put the sub at fault for the assured clear distance rule, yes?. Also, given the fuel spill - would the tank be somewhere aft on the New Orleans? |
| Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2009-03-20 20:22 |
| #10 so where was the FUBAR? I'd sumrise the sub was using the 'gator as a shadow to mask its signature. Sounds like a matter of either getting too close or a mis-communication before/during maneuvering. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2009-03-20 19:09 |
| #9 I'll remind y'all that Submarines work very hard at NOT being detected, I'd chalk this one as a major success. (Sorta) |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-03-20 18:42 |
| #8 Considering that the amphib shouldn't have been able to spot the submarine, I'm thinking blame is going to land right on the sub commander for this. The amphib's captain will prolly still lose his command, but the majority of blame is going to be on the sub commander. |
| Posted by: Silentbrick 2009-03-20 18:32 |
| #7 Too bad that doesn't apply to politicians, too... No kidding. They usually get re-elected and promoted. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2009-03-20 16:20 |
| #6 OK USN R'burgers - who hit whom here. The article says the sub was submerged, and both were heading to port (Bahrain? - inbound through the straits?) so where was the FUBAR? |
| Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2009-03-20 15:38 |
| #5 mess up one time and ... the whole career is shot. Too bad that doesn't apply to politicians, too... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2009-03-20 14:03 |
| #4 Should be some openings soon for Navy promotions. You spend your whole life getting a ship command, then just mess up one time and run into another ship (or run into anything, for that matter) and the whole career is shot. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-03-20 12:42 |
| #3 Oil prices rise after news of Hormuz collision AP article |
| Posted by: Anon4021 2009-03-20 11:28 |
| #2 Oil prices rise after news of Hormuz collision AP article |
| Posted by: Anon4021 2009-03-20 11:28 |
| #1 http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/mluphoup/turkey_farm.jpg Adventures in turkey farming. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2009-03-20 11:15 |