I had also read the Navy was aware that there were a number of uncharted obstacles in that region. They were, however, unconcerned because of the sophisticated electronics all US Warships carry should warn them of potential hazards.
I guess they forgot about full tilt boogie training runs. :smack:

Would that explain sacking the Captain?
 

This is just a guess, but maybe the captain was demoted for running without the sonar turned on. Hard to say.

My understanding is it doesn't work when they run at speed because the boat makes so much noise. :yelsick:

It's sort of like the faster you go, closer something has to be before it becomes noticable. Think of it like trying to hear something in the car with your head out of the window.

about SSN711
 

This is an older submarine, and did not have bow planes or vertical launch tubes. The situation could have been much different if she did.

No water entered the people tank. Flooding is bad, and she might not have survived that. The sonar sphere seen in the diagram can be accessed from inside the submarine, but that hatch is of course pressure proof and is kept dogged at all time except when necessary to enter for maintenance of the computer equipment there. Entry is only made while going slow, shallow depth.

Hi Jimbo, welcome to the cellar. :)
You're saying the diagram in post #6 is not this sub, but a later design?

I just saw a tiny piece in the KC Star Friday that said several members of a sub crew were punished for running into an underwater obstacle. Presumably, they were members of the San Francisco crew?

yes. I might have a link or story on this in the archives...I'll get back to you on it

Wow! Strategy Page has a new set of photos with higher-res shots including the area under the tarp.

http://cellar.org/2005/san_francisco_4.jpg

new report out
 

According to Yahoo, they've issued the report on the collision.

Although the mountain was not there on the particular charts that they were using, there was an indication of a navigation hazard in the area on other set of charts that they were supposed to look at as well.

Those "other charts" must be the satellite data I read about. They've been getting much better at looking beneath the surface with satellites. :eek:

I can hear the Captain of the vessel now...

"$150,000,000.00 to fix a dented front fender! That's outrageous! Do you know what this will do to my insurance rates?!"

His insurance rates are probably the least of his problems. This clearly is a carrer buster. He need start looking for a new carrer - as I understand how the system works.

Apparently damage to the USS San Francisco was more dangerous than was originally reported. Forward ballast tank was compromised. The boat remained stuck on the bottom, stern up, for some minutes before it finally and slowly floated to the surface. From the NY Times of 18 May 2005:
Adrift 500 Feet Under the Sea, a Minute Was an Eternity

Attached to the article is an interactive graphic entitled "Fighting to Save a Fallen Sailor". Notice the location of all forward ballast tanks.

Also confirmed by the article are that maps did not show the obstruction. Submarines move blind. They are dependant on maps that really only report 10% of the ocean.

Good find :thumbsup: I can't imagine what it was like down there, waiting and waiting, for the ship to rise. And when it did still not knowing if they would make it.