Pic of seriously damaged sub (perhaps Kursk?)

A friend of mine recently sent me a powerpoint presentation. It had pics of all sorts of accidents in it. The following pic caught my attention though, especially because i've been following the threads here on ATS about the Kursk.


External Image

I don't actually think that its the Kursk. I think it may be a US sub judging by the uniforms and the partially visible flag.

Does anyone know what happened here?

[edit - fixed spelling and grammar]

[edit on 15-9-2006 by kulcha]

I think you'll find it is a USN LA class sub, the USS San Francisco. It hit an undersea mountain. There is heaps about it on the web with quite detailed overviews of why. One such is here:

Overview of incident

Hope this helps. Pays to update your charts when driving subs!

Wow, that was quick!

Thanks for the link. I think you're right about it being the San Francisco.

If i understand correctly, its not that there weren't updated maps available, but rather that the exec. officer and navigational crew didn't review the available maps adequately enough!

Thanks Willard856.

It is the USS San Francisco. I know this because I worked on her when she was being built. I can recognize a 688 class boat..both the improved and the older models.

Oh..and yes..she suffered great damage in this accident. They are very lucky to have made it home. Very lucky. THey had to be blowing tanks all the way home to keep her on the surface.

Thanks,
Orangetom

A testament to the strength of these boats, a 30 knot impact and she still made it home.

Well built indeed.

I think that's more a testament to her crew. They had to be fighting hard to save her the whole way home, and didn't give up or make any mistakes.

Originally posted by Zaphod58
I think that's more a testament to her crew. They had to be fighting hard to save her the whole way home, and didn't give up or make any mistakes.

I agree. Totally.
They took this one down on the wire..it was close. This type of boat without VLS Tomahawk missle tubes in the bow ..normally rides high up at the bow when on the surface. The pictures of her coming back in show she was very level..on the surface and riding down very far ..not like normally bow up.

Orangetom