Submarine Hampton under investigation

[unhappycamper]

Submarine Hampton under investigation
By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Oct 12, 2007 20:34:01 EDT

SAN DIEGO — The fast attack submarine Hampton, which completed an overseas deployment last month, is under investigation for unspecified reasons, Navy officials said Friday afternoon.

“During a routine review ... conduct of procedures, although found to be safe, fell short of high Navy standards,” Submarine Squadron 11 officials said in a release, provided by spokeswoman Lt. Alli Myrick.

Capt. Chip Jaenichen, squadron commander, ordered an investigation under the Judge Advocate General’s Manual, or JAGMan, after some “issues” surfaced while the submarine and squadron were preparing for a normal end-of-deployment examination, Myrick said.

The investigation was being done “to determine the extent of these issues,” officials said in the statement. “The Navy sets high standards of professionalism and takes those standards very seriously.”

Already, one officer and several enlisted sailors have received disciplinary action, Myrick said. No details were available late Friday.

The Los Angeles-class Hampton, led by its skipper, Cmdr. Mike Portland, arrived Sept. 17 at the Point Loma Naval Base in San Diego, its new homeport after making a permanent move from Norfolk, Va.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/10/navy_hampton_sub_071012/



uhc comment: It's very unusual for a nuclear sub to be pulled offline for an investigation. This blog has a few ideas --> http://bubbleheads.blogspot.com/2007/10/uss-hampton-in-new-home-port.html

[fasttense]

1. Something seriously F'd up happened on that sub.

I suspect it is probably the engineering department that had some serious failures. Engineering is one of the most regulated departments of a sub.

[formercia]

2. I wonder if this is connected to the B-52 Nukes incident.

Someone made the comment about they might have had "their keys taken away."

[Captain Hilts]

3. I doubt it. The sub force is VERY strict on the handling of their boats...

they have their own procedures for their own reasons.

[formercia]

4. The Air Force has very strict procedures as well.

I understand your point because of the nature of the deployment and the difference in the handling procedures.

If they did lose their keys, that would mean a serious breach of protocols.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Right, the nature of the way these things are handled...

can vary somewhat.

The article kind of suggests it's the engineering plant. We'll have to wait and see.

The navy and the air force have really been screwed over by the Iraq War. All the services have, albeit, in different ways.

[formercia]

8. I doubt we will hear much.

That's why it's called the 'Silent Service.'

[Captain Hilts]

9. It depends on the nature of the problem, if it relates to capabilities, probably not., but if...

it relates to other procedures we probably will.

You can't outguess it.

[Sirveri]

11. They did lose the keys.

They are welded to the pier right now.

The problem was with the Reactor Labs Division blazing off logs. They won't be leaving the pier for a while, and they're going to have a horrible reputation afterwards for years. The boat and reactor are perfectly safe though.

[elifino]

6. Question on the Submarine picture

Is this the USS Walrus (SS-437), a Tench-class submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the walrus, a gregarious, aquatic mammal?
I served on the Corsair USS 435, the TIRANTE USS420, and the Senet USS 408.
Problem could have been in Engineering or some concern for overall safe operation of the boat.

[Captain Hilts]

7. It's Sea Robin, 1963 when my dad was skipper, one # ahead of Sennet...

I know Tirante very well!

Pride runs deep!

[Submariner]

10. Nuke boats suk

They never got to go on liberty like us pigboaters. Poor bastages. It's no wonder they have so much trouble. No fun to relieve the tension.

My qual boat (Becuna SS-319) was the 2nd fastest Groton boat right behind the Bobbin' Robin.