USS San Francisco (SSN-711)

Date of Incident: 08 January, 2005

Returned to Service: TBD

While conducting a high-speed submerged transit from Guam to Australia, USS San Francisco (SSN-711), a Los Angeles-class nuclear powered attack submarine ran aground at approximately noon local time, approximately 350 miles south of Guam.

98 sailors (out of 137 crew) were injured, 30 seriously. One sailor succumbed to his injuries, despite the arrival of Navy medical personnel who were sent aboard San Francisco in response to the accident.

The submarine returned to Guam on the surface. She was escorted by the USCG Cutter Galveston Island (WPB-1349), a 110-foot Island-class cutter and USNS GYSGT Fred W. Stockham (T-AK 3017), a Large, Medium-Speed Roll-On/Roll-Off (LMSR) vessel operated by Military Sealift Command. Both Galveston Island and Stockham are homeported in Guam.

After an initial evaluation at the pier, San Francisco was drydocked. The Navy's former "Big Blue" drydock, now owned by Guam Shipyard, although not certified to dock nuclear-powered vessels, was given a one-time certification for San Francisco's drydocking so that the Navy can assess the extent of the damage. Two photographs were released. Both show significant damage to San Francisco's bow, including damage to the port side torpedo tube outer doors.

Medium Image (76KB JPG)
Large Image (3.0MB JPG)
All images - US Navy Official Photographs

Medium Image (49KB JPG)
Large Image (2.2MB JPG)
All images - US Navy Official Photographs

According to the command investigation, repairs to San Francisco will cost at least $88 million. In addition to the visible damage to the sonar dome, three ballast tanks were damaged and all four torpedo tube doors were deformed in the accident and are inoperable. 15 torpedoes and two Tomahawk missiles had to be repaired at an unspecified cost.

The Commanding Officer, CDR Kevin Mooney, was relieved of command following NJP (non-judicial punishment) proceedings on 12 February. CDR Andrew Hale, the deputy commander of SUBRON 15, assumed the duties as Commanding Officer of San Francisco. Six other members of the crew were also given NJP.

Twenty crewmembers recieved awards for their actions to save shipmates and the submarine:

Meritorious Service Medal:
LT (jg) Craig E. Litty
Petty Officer 1st Class (SS) James H. Akin

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal:
LT Jeff M. McDonald
Senior Chief Petty Officer (SS) Danny R. Hager
Petty Officer 1st Class (SS) Christopher L. Baumhoff
Petty Officer 1st Class (SS) Bryan C. Powell
Petty Officer 2nd Class (SS) Gilbert L. Daigle
Petty Officer 2nd Class (SS) Jeremy Y. Key
Petty Officer 2nd Class (SS) David J. Miller
Petty Officer 2nd Class (SS) Scott M. Pierce
Petty Officer 2nd Class (SS) Carnell L. Smoot

Navy and Marine Corps Acievement Medal:
Chief Petty Officer (SS) Maximum L. Chia
Chief Petty Officer (SS) Jacob M. Elder
Petty Officer 2nd Class (SS) Ian P. Cross
Petty Officer 2nd Class (SS) Matthew R. Thurman

Letter of Commendation:
Petty Officer 1st Class (SS) Joshua D. Barrow
Petty Officer 1st Class (SS) Richard T. Bolton
Petty Officer 1st Class (SS) Scott C. Deranleau
Petty Officer 1st Class (SS) Benjamin J. Sidwell
Petty Officer 2nd Class (SS) Joseph D. Anderson

The official report of the investigation has been released, and is available at the Pacific Fleet Website.

Initial repairs to San Francisco include installation of a temporary bow dome to allow her to safely transit from Guam to a future repair site. Two photos of this temorary dome have been released:
First Picture
Second Picture

(Hamilton; Official Website, US Navy; Official US Navy Press Releases; Official Website, Pacific Fleet; Official Website, Naval Forces Marianas; Official Website, Military Sealift Command; Official Website, US Coast Guard)

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