Samuel Chamberlain for the New York Post reports October 8, 2021:
“Sailors hurt after Navy submarine collides with object in South China Sea
"Several sailors suffered minor injuries after a US Navy submarine collided with an unidentified object last weekend in the South China Sea, multiple reports indicated [October 7, 2021].
The US Pacific Fleet said in a statement that the fast-attack sub [USS Connecticut
(SSN-22)] struck the object while submerged on the afternoon of Oct. 2. The statement noted that there were “no life-threatening injures” and added that the sub was “in a safe and stable condition.”
“USS Connecticut’s nuclear propulsion plant and spaces were not affected and remain fully operational. The extent of damage to the remainder of the submarine is being assessed,” the statement concluded. “The U.S. Navy has not requested assistance. The incident will be investigated.”
The Pacific Fleet did not specify the USS Connecticut’s location when the incident occurred, saying the vessel was “operating in international waters in the Indo-Pacific region.” However, the Associated Press and USNI News reported the collision took place in the South China Sea while the sub was conducting routine operations.
Both outlets reported that the sub was heading toward port at Guam and the incident had not been announced earlier in order to maintain operational security.
[Pete Comment: And maybe also for Public Relations reasons. That is, in order to cover up an unsightly gash in the bow or sail - with Connecticut having to remain on the surface till it got to Guam.]
The Associated Press, citing two Navy officials, reported that two sailors aboard the USS Connecticut sustained moderate injuries and about nine others had minor injuries like scrapes and bruises. All were treated on board the submarine.
It is unclear what object the vessel had hit, but the AP reported investigators had ruled out another submarine. One official suggested to the outlet that it could have been a sunken vessel, a sunken container or other uncharted object...”
SEE THE WHOLE NEW YORK POST ARTICLE
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PETE COMMENT
As well as “sunken vessel, a sunken container or other uncharted object” USS Connecticut might have hit a surfaced ship/boat or a whale.
But I’d put money on hitting the seafloor, a rock or islet.
If “investigators had ruled out another submarine” we might have to exclude another submarine.
17 comments:
UUVs are getting larger.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64TVDx7huHI&t=298s
KQN
Thanks KQN
Very interesting.
Naval Group is also progessing a smaller, though still quite large, torpedo sized UUV called the D-19T anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training UUV - see https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/euronaval-2020/2020/10/euronaval-french-navy-becomes-launch-customer-of-naval-groups-d-19t-uuv/
Reported Ocober 2020 "French Navy Becomes Launch Customer Of Naval Group’s D-19T UUV"
"The D19 is the last generation of versatile Unmanned Underwater Vehicle developed by Naval Group for military missions. The D19 is built on a F21 torpedo base. This way, Naval Group takes advantage of its experience accumulated with the development of this torpedo. The D19 is propelled by a Lithium-ion energy section. Already sea proven thanks to the joint effort of Naval Group and the French Navy, the D19 combines long
The family of D19 drones is equipped with modular front-end payload, meaning it can easily be adapted for each mission. It can be launched by a submarine, a surface vessel or from the shore. Thanks to its plug-and-play payload system, D19 can fulfil a wide variety of missions:
■intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR),
■electronic warfare,
■anti-submarine warfare (ASW),
■ASW training,
■underwater mobile target,
■mine countermeasures,
■rapid environmental assessment,
■mine and mine laying."
Good that Naval Group is giving the US XLUUV crowd some competition.
Pete
We know from news wire that the submarine hit an unknown underwater object in the South China Sea.
Based on the limited data it is likely to be an inanimate object rather than a moving object as the passive sonar would more likely pick up the threat and avoid collision. Given that it was in the SCS, I would speculate that it may well be a Chinese made trap against submarine intrusion in a sensitive part of the SCS. A Seawolf is one of the most capable sub in the USN inventory and it would have some specific and difficult mission set in the SCS. Just my 2 cents.
Brumby
Hi Pete
As interesting is the DDO presentation at Naval "Innovations Days"this week
This a sub drone 12 m long, 150 m deep ; 15 knots, powered by H2 fuel cells with weeks endurance.Typically launched from a surface ship for reconnaissance/intelligence missions ( more later probably)
Naval for the sub , Thales for the sensors and inertial navigation system as well as Ideflex for the AI/ tactical software
Initial trial since Feb 2021 in front of Toulon.Nnext campaign in 2022
A demonstrator not ordered or funded by the French Navy
HIPete
Corrections
Op speed is 6 knots for up to 3 weeks with fuel cells (15 is the top speed)
The Software co iss Delfox
There is a sat image of the suspected Seawolf class submarine, ~43nm from the Paracels sailing on the surface probably after the collision.
I guess it must be snooping in the vicinity of Woody or Sanya.
KQN
Likely a nefarious new underwater weapon of terror.
A shipping container full of Kmart Christmas decorations…
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-26/shipping-containers-plunge-overboard-as-supply-race-raises-risks
The final UUV is supposed to be larger. Its primary mission is ISR but it is supposed to carry F21 torpedo for ASW. We could see swarms of UUV in the future making life unpleasant for submariners.
KQN
Hi all above
With the USN delaying explanations what Connecticut hit - anything remains possible.
With the Seawolfs perhaps the fastest subs in the ocean Connecticut's speed might have been its undoing.
Pete
Hi KQN [at Oct 10, 2021, 1:08:00 PM]
I feel that weaponising very Autonomous AUVs with torpedoes or missiles could lead to some disastrous unintended consequences:
1. hitting the WRONG TARGETS ie. passenger ships or ferries
2. even hitting the intended targets but at the WRONG TIME ie. during ambiguous peace talks
and
3. say a torpedo armed US XLUUV being electronically HIJACKED by China and firing its torpedo(s) at Western or other PASSENGER SHIPS.
Re Anonymous [Oct 10, 2021, 1:08:00 PM]
F21 torpedo for ASW? That's a big torpedo. I think more likely to be ASuW. (See comment below.)
Re Pete [Oct 10, 2021, 6:51:00 PM]
XLUUV command security is a problem, but no worse than other weapons. As for risk for wrong targets and mines, the risk is the same as for Intelligent (AI) mobile mines. In fact, the XLUUV would simply be a mobile field of intelligent mobile mines.
Imagine if Taiwan was blockaded by China, this would be a way to retaliate by counter blockading Chinese ports in south china sea (very dangerous waters) without risking submarine crews. XLUUV acquisition lead times would also be far shorter than full up SSKs.
Perhaps it was an SDV docking that went wrong? That would fit with all the spooky stuff Connecticut does.
I read the final French XUUV will be 20 meters long.
KQN
We will never know what happens. Given some crews got bruises and lacerations, I do not think it was moving very fast.
The careers of its commandant and other officers in charge will end here.
KQN
Hi KQN [your Oct 12, 2021, 2:48:00 PM]
With the "final French XUUV...20 meters long" this makes it similar to, and in likely competition with
US Boeing's Orca XLUUV at 15.5m to 26m, depending on mission,
https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/orca-xluuv/
Pete
Hi KQN [your Oct 12, 2021, 2:53:00 PM]
I think the USN will hold a Board of Inquiry given the likely US$millions taxpayer money repair bill.
To justify sacking Connecticut's Commander, Officer of the Watch and possibly some Petty Officers reasons will likely be published. After a Judicial and Public Relations pause.
If a Chinese ship/"fishing boat" rammed it - then that might change things.
Pete
I hope the chinese were not rash enough to do employ their famed 'SCS ramming' technique that they use on the Malaysians, Vietnamese, Indonesians and Filipinos with such alarming regularity. (many of their regular coast guard 'boats' are over 10,000 tons)
Such uneasy days with the fuel crisis, supply chain troubles and what not...
Anonymous@Oct 11, 2021, 4:54:00 PM has a point, an XLUUV by Boeing is more likely to have a Mark 50 torpedo that is just 2.9 m vs a F21/ADCAP sized 5.8-6.0 m.... the Mark 50 can dive upto 2,000 feet or 500-600 feet more than the latest Shang 093G SSGNs of the PLA-N...
I can foresee a situation where XLUUVs armed with a couple of Mark 50s and a pair of smaller cruise missile (same size as an air launched Harpoon at 2-3 meters max) can literally silent glide at 2-4 knots virtually for weeks in search of a target...
http://www.hisutton.com/images/USN_BoeingOrca_Cutaway.jpg
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