Greeneville skipper faulted, but stays with sub
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
The third collision in a year's time involving the Pearl Harbor-based submarine USS Greeneville has resulted in disciplinary action against its latest captain, but not his removal from command of the sub.
At a hearing Tuesday, Rear Adm. John Padgett III, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet submarine force, found Cmdr. Lindsay Hankins guilty of "negligently hazarding a vessel" in the Jan. 27 collision with amphibious transport USS Ogden in the Arabian Sea, Navy officials said.
Despite the finding at the administrative hearing, Hankins gets to keep his job.
"He remains in command," said Lt. Cmdr. Kelly Merrell, spokeswoman for the submarine force. "At the proceeding, Adm. Padgett thoroughly evaluated his performance, his record and his potential to accomplish the command mission and he determined he still had confidence in Cmdr. Hankin's ability to command."
The results of the investigation conducted by the Navy's 7th Fleet — including who was at fault when the two vessels collided in rough seas — were unavailable from the Navy yesterday.
The fast-attack submarine was preparing to transfer two sailors to the Ogden via inflatable boat when the Greeneville's stern stabilizer plane punched a 5-by-18-inch hole in the starboard side of the Ogden's hull about 15 feet below the waterline.
On Feb. 21, the Navy relieved Cmdr. William Edwards as captain of the Ogden, home-ported in San Diego.
The collision was the Greeneville's third in less than a year. On Feb. 9, 2001, the sub made international news when it collided with the Japanese fisheries training ship Ehime Maru nine miles south of O'ahu during a surfacing drill, sinking the Japanese vessel and killing nine aboard.
At a disciplinary hearing, Cmdr. Scott Waddle was found guilty of negligent hazarding of a vessel, as well as dereliction of duties. He retired in September.
Then on Aug. 27, 2001, the Greeneville ran aground briefly while trying to enter a harbor in Saipan, causing $120,000 in damage and prompting the Navy to remove Cmdr. David S. Bogdan from command.
Padgett's finding in the latest case was made at a nonjudicial punishment type of proceeding. Hankins, who took over as commander of the Greeneville on Oct. 22, was given a letter of reprimand, Merrell said. The reprimand, which becomes a permanent part of Hankins' military record, would be considered by future promotion boards, Merrell said.
Four other Greeneville crew members were charged with negligent dereliction of duty. The officer of the deck and contact coordinator were each given a letter of reprimand, Merrell said, while the fire control technician of the watch and radar operator were placed on 30 days restriction, made to forfeit half a month's pay and reduced in rate by one pay grade, a measure that was suspended for six months.
The cost for repairs to the Ogden was $536,000. The repair tab for the Greeneville, which received a 4-foot scrape on its stern stabilizer plane, was estimated at $200,000.
The Greeneville is scheduled to leave dry dock today after undergoing the repairs and receiving upgrades over the past six weeks.
