Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Thursday, January 26
    Trending
    • Animated Map of the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine (through January 26th, 2023)
    • This Day in History on January 26th
    • History Short: Who is the Octomom?
    • This Day in History on January 25th
    • History Short: The Rise and Fall of Sir Walter Raleigh
    • Headline: The Doomsday Clock Has Moved Closer to Midnight Than Ever Before!
    • Headlines: 2023 Oscar Nominations Released!
    • This Day in History on January 24th
    History and Headlines
    • Arts & Entertainment
      • Cinema & TV
      • Games
      • Literature
      • Music
      • Sports
      • Video Games
    • Bizarre Bulletin
      • Misconceptions
      • The Bizarre
      • The Paranormal
      • The Unexplained
    • Lifestyle
      • Animals/Pets
      • Fashion
      • Food
      • Health/Medicine
      • Home Improvement
      • Horoscopes
      • Travel
    • Science & Tech
      • Inventions
      • Nature
      • Vehicles
    • Society
      • Business and Economics
      • Crime
      • Military
      • Politics
      • Religion
      • Society
    • About
      • Welcome to Our Site!
      • This Day in History
      • Table of Contents: A History of the World
      • Online History Textbooks
      • A Guide to Some of Our Favorite Scholars and Educators
      • Advance Screenings and Movie Reviews Archive
      • Schedule of Video Adaptations of Our Articles
    • Friends
      • Armchair History TV
      • Fact Fiend
      • RealClearHistory
      • Simply Charly
      • TopTenz
      • ​Unique Interpretations
    History and Headlines
    You are at:Home»January»January 8»January 8, 2005: Even High Tech Cannot Stop Another Naval Oops Moment!
    January 8

    January 8, 2005: Even High Tech Cannot Stop Another Naval Oops Moment!

    Major DanBy Major DanJanuary 8, 2019Updated:January 10, 2020No Comments7 Mins Read
    Email Facebook LinkedIn Pinterest Reddit Telegram Tumblr Twitter VKontakte WhatsApp
    Naval Oops Moments

    A Brief History

    On January 8, 2005, the United States Navy, normally pretty safe drivers of large grey boats, managed another one of those “Naval Oops Moments” we keep writing about when the nuclear powered submarine, USS San Francisco (SSN-711) (Los Angeles Class attack sub), managed to collide at full speed with an underwater mountain off the coast of Guam in the Pacific Ocean.  Operating at a depth of 525 feet and sailing at flank speed (the maximum, but classified top speed), it is a true testament to the brilliance of the designers and builders of the sub that the boat and its crew were not lost.  Only 1 man was killed, and while that death is tragic, the fact that more of the crew were not killed is borderline amazing.

    Digging Deeper

    The boat (submarines are called boats, even though the modern variety are pretty big ships in their own right) was seriously damaged, with the forward ballast tanks ruptured.  The excellence of the crew in coping with the damage and making the correct decisions allowed the stricken sub to gain positive buoyancy and reach the surface after a harrowing struggle for survival.  A total of 98 of the 127 sailors aboard the sub were injured.  The fatally injured man, Machinist’s Mate Second Class Joseph Allen Ashley, 24, of Akron, Ohio, had suffered a head injury and died the next day.  Luckily for the crew, the nuclear reactor and drive line of the ship were not damaged, and the pressure hull, the inner shell of metal that encases the crew, was not breached.  The submarine made its way to Guam on January 10, 2005, under her own power though escorted by Coast Guard Cutters and aircraft.

    San Francisco in a drydock in Guam during her temporary repairs for her voyage to Puget Sound, May 2005.

    Examination of the damage quickly confirmed that the sub had indeed struck a “seamount” (underwater mountain) and not another submarine or other type of obstruction.  The captain of the San Francisco, Commander Kevin Mooney, was found to be at fault for failing to ensure that proper planning and navigation protocols were followed.  He was relieved of command and issued a reprimand, a career killer for an otherwise distinguished sailor.  Another 6 members of the crew were given non-judicial punishment (a class of disciplinary action below the level of a court martial) and reduced in rank.  On a happier note, 20 of the crew were awarded medals and letters of commendation for their heroic and effective actions during the emergency.  (Our hats are off to the well trained and cool under pressure sailors that must have been operating under terrifying and desperate conditions.  Bravo Zulu to you guys!)  Although the seamount was not on charts available to the San Francisco, the area of the seamount was marked with the ominous notation, “dark water” which could indicate such a subsurface projection.

    Repairs to the San Francisco in Guam were of a temporary nature, just enough to allow the sub to travel to Puget Sound in Washington State for more permanent repairs.  The novel solution to the heavy damage caused to the San Francisco was to replace the bow of the sub with the bow section of another Los Angeles Class submarine, the USS Honolulu.  Although the Honolulu was newer than the San Francisco, the San Francisco was more up to date and scheduled for another dozen years of service.  Repairs were completed and the submarine reentered service in 2008.  The section cut off from the San Francisco and replaced by that of the Honolulu weighed an impressive 1 million+ pounds!  In 2016, the San Francisco completed its service life and began conversion to a “moored training ship” stationed at the US Navy Nuclear Power Training Unit in Charleston, South Carolina.

    Insignia of SSN-711

    The USS San Francisco was a highly capable attack type submarine, entering active service (i.e., commissioned) in 1981, and stretching an inch shy of 362 feet long.  The sub displaced 6,145 tons when loaded and boasted 4 X 21 inch torpedo tubes through which it could fire torpedoes, cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, or lay mines.  Newer submarines of the Los Angeles Class also have 12 vertical launch tubes for cruise missiles, but the San Francisco pre-dated that development.  Top speed (achieved underwater) is classified but may be in the 30-40 mph range.  Other than attacking surface and shore targets, the Los Angeles Class submarines can also target enemy submarines, gather intelligence, or be used to insert special operations forces (SEALs), as well as perform rescue work if needed.  Of the 62 submarines of the Los Angeles Class, built from 1972 to 1996, 32 remain in service today.

    To illustrate the size of the San Francisco we compare it to the American World War II submarine Gato Class, which were 311 feet and 8 inches long with a submerged displacement (loaded) of 2424 tons, with a comparatively small crew of only 6 officers and 54 enlisted men.  The Gato Class boats had a beam of 27 feet compared to the 33 foot beam of the San Francisco.

    USS Gato off Mare Island Navy Yard on 29 November 1944

    Note: The history of naval operations is replete with tales of woe caused by bad weather, bad luck, bad design, bad decisions and sometimes who knows what else!  The number of collisions and groundings and various accidents makes for a frightening litany of reasons why going to sea is a hazardous occupation.  Please see our other articles concerning maritime disasters and “oops moments.”  (Including “Yet Another Naval Blunder (HMS Barnham Sinks HMS Duchess In Spectacular Display of Explosions),” “HMS Curacoa, Yet Another Naval ‘Oops’ Moment!,” “Most Powerful Warship Sinks on Maiden Voyage,” “10 “Oops!” Moments in Naval History,” “The Honda Point Disaster,” “The Submarine that Killed its Inventor in the American Civil War,” and another article that includes a few more naval mishaps, “10 Monstrous Military Mishaps.”  We also have many other maritime related articles, both disaster and more positive themed articles.

    Question for students (and subscribers): Have you ever been on board a submarine?  Have you seen any of the classic submarine movies such as Das Boot, The Hunt for Red October, Crimson Tide or Run Silent, Run Deep? Have you ever read about or watched documentaries about submarine warfare?  Would you be willing to serve on a submarine?  Please let us know in the comments section below this article.

    Original 1981 theatrical poster

    If you liked this article and would like to receive notification of new articles, please feel welcome to subscribe to History and Headlines by liking us on Facebook and becoming one of our patrons!

    Your readership is much appreciated!

    Historical Evidence

    For more information, please see…

    Bonner, Kit, Carolyn Bonner and Kermit Bonner. Great Naval Disasters: U.S. Naval Accidents in the 20th Century. Zenith Press, 1998.

    Friedman, Norman. U.S. Submarines Since 1945, Revised Edition: An Illustrated Design History. Naval Institute Press, 2018.

    Symonds, Craig. The U.S. Navy: A Concise History. Oxford University Press, 2015.

    The featured image in this article, a U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Mark A. Leonesio (RELEASED) from http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=14706 of the attack submarine USS San Francisco (SSN 711) being escorted by two harbor tugs returns to Apra Harbor, Guam, after a five-month deployment, is a work of a sailor or employee of the U.S. Navy, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain in the United States.  San Francisco is to attached to Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 (COMSUBRON Fifteen), which is the Navy’s only forward-deployed submarine squadron and is homeported in the U.S. territory of Guam.

    Share. Email Facebook LinkedIn Pinterest Reddit Telegram Twitter Tumblr
    Previous ArticleJanuary 7, 2015: Je suis Charlie (Terrorism Hits France as Free Speech is Attacked)
    Next Article January 9, 1918: What Was the Last Battle of The American Indian Wars?
    Major Dan

    Major Dan is a retired veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He served during the Cold War and has traveled to many countries around the world. Prior to his military service, he graduated from Cleveland State University, having majored in sociology. Following his military service, he worked as a police officer eventually earning the rank of captain prior to his retirement.

    Related Posts

    Animated Map of the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine (through January 26th, 2023)

    January 26, 2023

    History Short: The Rise and Fall of Sir Walter Raleigh

    January 25, 2023

    Headline: The Doomsday Clock Has Moved Closer to Midnight Than Ever Before!

    January 24, 2023
    Follow Us!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Patreon
    Sign Up For Our Newsletter!
    Most Recent

    Animated Map of the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine (through January 26th, 2023)

    January 26, 2023

    This Day in History on January 26th

    January 26, 2023

    History Short: Who is the Octomom?

    January 26, 2023

    This Day in History on January 25th

    January 25, 2023

    History Short: The Rise and Fall of Sir Walter Raleigh

    January 25, 2023
    This Day in History Video

    Advertisements




    Amazon Affiliate Disclosure Statement

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases via links in the “Historical Evidence” sections of articles.

    About HistoryAndHeadlines.com

    Thanks for visiting History and Headlines!  This site exists primarily for educational purposes and is intended as a resource for Dr. Zar’s students.  Articles are mostly written by either Dr. Zar or his dad (Major Dan).  To any guest readers, please keep that in mind when commenting on articles.   Thank you!

    We try to present our students with historical topics that are both diverse and a bit out of the ordinary.  Our motto is “We try until we succeed!”

    Contact us at admin@historyandheadlines.com

    Guidelines and Policies for Images used on This Site, as well as for Guest and Sponsored Articles, and Other Terms of Use

    Privacy Statement

    © 2022 History and Headlines

    All-Time Most Commented

    July 28, 1866: 18 Year Old Girl Wins Commission to Sculpt Statue of Lincoln (A Truly Great American Woman)

    July 28, 2014

    December 24, 1865: Birth of the Ku Klux Klan

    December 24, 2015

    December 25, 1868: President Johnson Pardons all Confederate Veterans

    December 25, 2015

    February 5, 1909: First Plastic Invented was called Bakelite!

    February 5, 2014

    November 23, 1876: “Boss” Tweed Turned Over to Authorities

    November 23, 2013
    Recommended Book
    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

    You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

    History and Headlines
    Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

    Strictly Necessary Cookies

    Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

    If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.