New Greeneville skipper loses job

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

For the second time this year, a commander of the USS Greeneville fast-attack submarine has been relieved of his duties.

Cmdr. David S. Bogdan took command of the submarine USS Greeneville in April, two months after it accidentally sank and rammed the Japanese fisheries training vessel Ehime Maru.

The 360-foot Los Angeles-class submarine received minor scrapes along its keel and rudder and required $120,000 in repairs in Guam, said Pacific Fleet spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Kelly Merrell.

Rear Adm. Joseph Enright, commander of Submarine Group Seven, conducted an admiral's mast Tuesday on Guam.

Yesterday, Bogdan, along with the submarine's executive officer Lt Cmdr. Gerald Pfeifer and the ship's navigator were found guilty of hazarding a vessel and each received punitive letters of reprimand.

Also, the assistant navigator was found guilty of dereliction of duty and also received a letter of reprimand.

Enright recommended that Bogdan be relieved of his duties because of a "lack of confidence in his ability to command." Capt. Robert Guy Jr., chief of staff of Submarine Group Seven, was named to command the Greeneville until a new commanding officer can be permanently assigned.

Bogdan, 39, is a 1983 graduate of the Naval Academy. He took over command of the Greeneville in April, two months after the submarine accidentally rammed and sank the Japanese fisheries training vessel Ehime Maru during a surfacing drill. Nine men and boys were killed.

Following that incident, Greeneville Cmdr. Scott Waddle was found guilty of violating military law. He has retired from the Navy.

Pfeifer was executive officer when the Greeneville rammed the Ehime Maru and received a letter of admonishment in that case.

An investigation found numerous navigation and piloting deficiencies that led to the Saipan grounding.

Among them were:

• The use of an incorrect edition of a navigation chart with improperly applied chart corrections.

• The use of an improved navigation track that crossed shallow water.

• Failure to use the harbor pilot to lead the Greeneville into port.

• The navigation team's failure to recognize the international buoy system in use in the Western Pacific.

The Greeneville was temporarily grounded on a reef as it approached Saipan Harbor. Because of poor weather conditions, the approach was aborted and the Greeneville headed for Guam.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8025.