rickusn

Once in the English Channel many years ago my submarine had two people swept off the sail both we got back aboard as luckily they were still attached to their safety lines.

But were badly injured both were helo evacuated. And that evacuation almost ended in disaster also.

I have a few other not so fond memories.

Then there was the time four firends of mine(from a different sub) were killed as they exited their submarine in Rota Spain on the day they were to fly home when scaffolding being placed around the sail collapsed on them.

Submarines are a dangerous business(I quess all seafaring is.) and when things go bad wrong they do so abrubtly usually with catastrophic consequences.

Breaks my heart.


British coast guard says 2 U.S. sailors die after falling off submarine
The Associated PressPublished: December 29, 2006

LONDON: Rough seas swept four U.S. sailors from the deck of a nuclear submarine off the coast of southwestern England on Friday, killing two of them, authorities said.

The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul was leaving Plymouth harbor accompanied by police boats in rough weather, police said. The four sailors were tied to the vessel with ropes — a routine precaution — but were knocked into the water by surging waves.

The police boats — small inflatable dinghies with outboard motors — picked up all four, said Baxter Provan, a spokesman for the Devon and Cornwall police.

Lt. Chris Servello, a spokesman for the U.S. 6th Fleet in Naples, southern Italy, said the four men were taken to hospital in Plymouth, where two were pronounced dead. The two survivors were treated for minor injuries and discharged, he said. No one else was injured and all the other sailors have been accounted for.

Authorities received a request for help just before 1 p.m. (1300GMT), near the large concrete breakwater barrier which protects Plymouth harbor. The British coast guards dispatched a search and rescue helicopter and a lifeboat to the scene, but police had already plucked them from the water.

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Sean Brooks, a coast guard officer, said that rescuers initially only saw two sailors tied to the vessel's hull with ropes.

"Because of the violent weather, they were frequently plunged below the waves," he said. "It then transpired that there were already two other guys in the water."

The two men were given CPR as they were carried ashore, but it was not enough to save them. Their names have been withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.

The Devon and Cornwall police are investigating the deaths together with the military.

Provan said the two survivors would probably not have been rescued as quickly had it not been for the police escort, which was assigned to the submarine because the higher security accorded to American vessels.

"You could say it was lucky they were there," he said.

Servello, the U.S. Navy spokesman, said the submarine had just completed a weeklong layover in Plymouth and was heading out to sea for routine duties.

Conditions were windy — with gusts reaching 47 miles (76 kilometers) per hour and light rains, Britain's Meteorological Office said.

Provan, the police spokesman, said the submarine continued on its journey, but would be returning to Plymouth harbor on Saturday once the weather and tides became more favorable.

The nuclear-powered attack submarine, which is based in Norfolk, Virginia, has a crew of 110 and can reach speeds exceeding 30 miles (47 kilometers) an hour. Its weapons include torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Sixth Fleet is the operational arm of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and is primarily responsible for the Mediterranean and western and central Africa.

Ironduke

My dad was on the SSBN Mariano G Vallejo 1970-1977... there was an accident on the sub, he fell and hit his head hard, developed epilepsy and had to leave the navy... he had signed on for 20 years. This was in the Mediterranean, I believe.

This incident in the channel is very unfortunate. Subs are indeed dangerous.

Dreadnought

You honestly have to admire the submariners. They are in a completely different world more then any other combatant at sea. Being around combatants like (DD,FF,SS,CG,etc.) alot of people (not necessarily the crew) tend to forget just how dangerous they and the work that goes on around them really are. Shame those sailors were lost.

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Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.