Navy says U.S. sub hit natural feature

Associated Press

HAGATNA, Guam — A U.S. nuclear submarine that ran aground over the weekend struck something hard on the Pacific Ocean floor and had to surface suddenly, a Navy spokesman said yesterday.

Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Davis said an initial investigation turned up nothing to indicate the USS San Francisco struck anything but a large rock, land or other natural feature as it conducted underwater operations about 350 miles south of Guam.

The ship "struck something very hard and did an emergency surface," Davis said at a media briefing in Guam. "We'll do everything we can to make sure this doesn't happen again."

Adm. Thomas Fargo, commander of U.S. Pacific Command based in Hawai'i, yesterday said a "rapid and thorough" investigation was under way.

"We're still gathering facts so it would be inappropriate for me to speculate on the cause," he said at a media briefing at Camp H.M. Smith.

Davis said there were no reports of damage to the submarine's nuclear reactor, which was how the San Francisco made its way back to its home port in Guam yesterday without being towed. Although the submarine's outer hull was damaged, the inner hull remained intact.

The submarine, which was headed to Australia for a port visit, ran aground around noon Guam time on Saturday.

One sailor was killed and at least 23 others suffered injuries including broken bones, cuts and bruises, the Navy said. The submarine has a crew of 137.

Machinist Mate 2nd Class Joseph Allen Ashley, 24, of Akron, Ohio, died Sunday after suffering major head injuries, Davis said. He had been working in the engineering compartments of the submarine.

"The families of the sailors were kept well-informed about exactly what the status of their loved ones are," Davis said. "This is something we're deeply saddened by. It's a tragedy we're going to work through."

Ashley graduated in 1999 from Manchester (Ohio) High School where he played drums with the marching band, his mother, Vicki Ashley, said Sunday. She said he followed the footsteps of his father, Daniel, who served eight years in the Navy during the Vietnam War.

Just a few months ago, Ashley re-enlisted for five more years, his mother said. Friends and neighbors placed small American flags on the lawn of his family's home.

The extent of the damage to the hull has not yet been determined.

Fargo had a prominent role following one of the more notable Pacific submarine collisions in recent years.

Four years ago, Fargo presided over a rare court of inquiry in connection with the Feb. 9, 2001, sinking of a Japanese fishing boat by the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Greeneville. Nine men and boys were killed in the collision.

Fargo found that the USS Greeneville's skipper, Cmdr. Scott Waddle, rushed his crew through preparations for a surfacing exercise and performed an insufficient periscope sweep. Waddle was reprimanded and agreed to retire from the Navy at full rank and pension after disciplinary proceedings.