The bow sonar cover of the USS Connecticut nuclear submarine that collided with the submarine mountains in the South China Sea has been completely removed, like a “decapitated”.Photo: Retrieved from the US Naval Institute website
The US Navy’s Seawolf class nuclear-powered submarine USS Connecticut (SSN-22) collided in the South China Sea on October 2, 2021, injuring 11 crew members. The US Pacific Fleet Command issued an investigation report on the 23rd, listing 28 corrective measures, pointing out that the cause of the accident was caused by “unit-level errors” and “accumulation of omissions”, and confirmed that the SSN-22 hit in the South China Sea was ” Unknown Seamount”.
The Pacific Fleet press release stated that the USS Connecticut ran aground following touching an “unknown seamount” in a “poorly surveyed area” in “international waters of the Indo-Pacific.” The investigation believed that the accident was “preventable”, pointing out that the collision and grounding accident was caused by “unit-level errors” and “accumulation of omissions” in the navigation plan, emphasizing that the ship’s observation team, risk management and other measures were “far lower than “Navy standards.
From the lessons learned, the investigation team identified 28 specific corrective actions that need to be improved in the deployment training and certification process, of which 14 have been completed, 13 are in progress, and 1 action must be implemented for a long time to form a force culture. Emphasizing that a ship cannot be a risk-averse or zero-defect organization, but prioritizing safety, attention to detail, increased procedural compliance, and a skeptical attitude toward continuous improvement will make the Navy more powerful in combat readiness and combat.
The press release subtly used “international waters of the Indo-Pacific” to replace the traditional geographical thinking of the South China Sea, and pointed out that it was a “poorly surveyed area”, explaining the error of the ship’s failure to turn on active sonar to avoid risks. As for what exactly did SSN-22 collide with? Various speculations, such as the previously rumored breeding cage nets, oil rigs, and shipwrecks tilted by ocean currents, were all denied and deemed to be “unknown seamounts”.
The U.S. military has repeatedly emphasized that the “Connecticut” power unit was not damaged in the impact; it has returned to Bremerton, Washington, for repairs, but there is no specific repair schedule. Regarding the “unit-level error” highlighted in the press release, the commander of the 7th Fleet to which he belonged immediately ordered the dismissal of the three main commanding officers of the captain, vice-captain and sailor.
