Collision!

This is coolbert:

I do not recall the main-stream-media [MSM] covering this "event"!

An American warship, the submarine USS Hartford, colliding with another American warship, and in the Persian Gulf [2009].

Normally, in the U.S., the MSM gloats and glorifies over "stories" that make the U.S. military look bad, enjoying to torment the brass with lurid tales of military incompetence. Submarine [especially those of the nuclear variety] disasters in particular make for good press?

"Navy Finds Lax Behavior Aboard Sub in Collision"

"GROTON, Conn. -- The crew aboard a U.S. submarine made dozens of errors before the vessel collided with an American warship in the Persian Gulf"

"Correction of any one of nearly 30 tactical and watchstander errors, or adherence to standard procedures, could have prevented this collision,"

DOZENS OF ERRORS - - ONLY ONE CORRECTION OF THIRTY ERRORS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE COLLISION!! Sounds bad. Heads will roll!! This from last March.

Such "occurrences" - - collisions they call them, are not all that rare as we might think. Several other "incidents" from the recent past come immediately to mind!

1. The USS San Francisco, plowing underneath the waves at about thirty knots, rams dead-on into an undersea mount that did not appear on the charts but was rumored to exist [2004]. The commander of the San Francisco not paying proper attention, using common sense or taking proper precautions, those at the helm NOT behaving prudently?

"Navy Report: San Francisco Crew Was Weak In Navigation"

"Shortcomings Are Seen As Key Factor In Sub's Undersea Crash"

2. And the "collision", so-called, between the USS Greeneville and a Japanese fishing vessel [Ehime Maru] off the coast of Hawaii [2001].

NOT so much a collision but rather the sub surfacing right underneath the fishing vessel, in a "cavalier" manner, normal precautions not being taken, and REPUTEDLY WITH CIVILIANS "JOY RIDERS" AT THE CONTROLS!

"Submarine accident sparks debate over Navy policy"

"Some say putting civilian contributors at the controls of our warships is reckless -- but did that cause the deaths of nine Japanese?"

Comments:

* Just the cost alone to repair one of these submarines after a collision with another vessel or an undersea mount in the case of the San Francisco seems to be just astronomical. Charge sheets written against each and everyone of the crew members could NEVER pay for the cost of repair and refurbishment.

* I recall reading with amazement the disparity between the mass of the two vessels [Greeneville and Ehime Maru] involved in the "collision" off the coast of Hawaii. Both ships comparing roughly favorably in length, the Greeneville, however, weighing in at 7,000 tons, compared to the 500 tons of the Maru. Whoa boy!!

These nuclear submarines presumably equipped with nuclear weaponry are not playthings! Obvious! That highly-professional Admiral Rickover American submarine force must become even more highly-professional, iron-clad discipline applied in an iron-clad manner, no laxity allowed!!

coolbert.