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N0KFQ > TODAY 09.02.12 18:40l 53 Lines 2386 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 17451_KB0WSA
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Feb 9
Path: IZ3LSV<IK2XDE<DB0RES<PI8CDR<GB7YEW<N9PMO<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 120209/1603Z 17451@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.48
Feb 9, 2001:
U.S. sub collides with Japanese fishing boat in Pearl Harbor
On this day in 2001, a United States military submarine collides
with a Japanese fishing boat in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing
four students and five other people. The USS Greenville was
hosting a cruise for VIPs at the time, some of whom were actually
at the controls of the sub when the collision occurred.
Scott Waddle was the commander of the Greenville, a 7,000-ton
nuclear submarine. As part of the Distinguished Visitor program,
16 civilians were on board the sub on the morning of February 9.
The last maneuver that was to be shown to the VIPs was the
Emergency Ballast Tank Blow that brings the submarine to the
surface very quickly.
It was at this point that proper procedures broke down
completely. Commander Waddle gave orders that could not be
completed properly in the time assigned. Appropriate sonar and
periscope sweeps to determine the safety of surfacing were not
completed. In addition, the crew failed to communicate its
intentions properly in part because civilians were sitting at the
sub controls. It also failed to notice that the Ehime Maru, a
Japanese fishing vessel, was above them on the surface.
The Greenville's rudder sliced right through the Ehime Maru's
engine room as it rose to the surface. The fishing boat, used as
a training vessel for high school students, was damaged so
severely that it sank within 10 minutes. Nine people, including
four students, drowned. A week later, the boat was found resting
on the ocean floor 2,000 feet below the surface and was carried
(still underwater) closer to the island of Oahu for salvage
operations. Divers recovered eight bodies in October and, later,
a memorial was established at Kakaako Park in Honolulu.
Despite the failures of Commander Waddle, Navy administrators did
not pursue a court-martial. Waddle received only a reprimand and
was allowed to keep his rank and pension.
The Greenville went on to be involved in two other incidents the
following year: In August, it ran aground in a Saipan port, and
on January 27, 2002, it collided with the USS Ogden near Oman.
Commanding officer David Bogdan was removed from duty following
the Saipan incident but there were no disciplinary measures taken
after the Ogden collision.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: n0kfq@winlink.org
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