‘Human error’ caused nuclear attack submarine to crash into cruiser

What you need to know: In October 2012, a collision occurred off the coast of northeast Florida between the USS Montpelier (SSN-765), a Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine, and the USS San Jacinto (CG-56), a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, during a training exercise with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group.

-The U.S. Navy attributed the accident to “human error and poor teamwork,” citing distractions from the carrier’s high-priority operations and failure to follow periscope procedures.

-Although there were no serious injuries, the incident resulted in $81 million in repairs and the relief of Commander Thomas Winter from command. The investigation also criticized the Navy’s planning of the exercise. The USS San Jacinto was decommissioned in September 2023, while the USS Montpelier was returned to service after repairs.

“Human error” attributed to underwater collision with US Navy in 2012

Following an extensive investigation, the U.S. Navy announced in June 2014 that “human error and poor teamwork” led to the October 14, 2012 collision of the US-class fast attack submarine. USS Los Angeles. Montpellier (SSN-765) and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG-56) off the coast of Florida.

Each of the ships was conducting a training exercise as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) when the incident occurred.

“On October 14, 2012, at approximately 3:30 p.m. local time, two U.S. Navy ships collided off the coast of northeast Florida,” Harrison Kass wrote for The National Interest. “The two ships were part of a group sailing with a third ship. They were conducting an anti-submarine exercise before deploying as part of a carrier strike group with the USS Nimitz-class. Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. The collision highlighted the danger inherent in operating massive and powerful warships so close together. »

Too close for comfort

During the exercise, the fast attack submarine acted as an “aggressor” while the cruiser was tasked with protecting the aircraft carrier. It’s the type of training that is done so often that crews can take certain procedures for granted, and that’s what the U.S. Navy determined nearly a dozen years ago.

The crew of the USS San Jacinto was “multitasking,” Kass explained, and found himself distracted by “higher priority carrier flight operations.” At the same time, Commander Thomas Winter, the skipper of the USS Montpellier “did not follow basic periscope operating procedures.”

When it was determined that the submarine was closing in on the cruiser, Winter ordered the boat into “deep emergency”, but it was too late – and the USS Montpellier hit the USS San Jacinto. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, but it sunk the career of Commander Winter, who was later relieved of duty.

The crews were not entirely to blame, however, as the investigation “blamed the Navy’s chain of command for failing to properly plan the exercise,” the Associated Press reported in 2014.

The damage was light – but nothing about military ships should be considered inconsequential. The submarine suffered a dislodged rudder while the cruiser suffered metal deformation of the sonar dome. Total repair bills were $81 million, with $70 million spent on repairs to the USS Montpellier and $11 million on USS San Jacinto.

The consequences

The CG-56, named after the Battle of San Jacinto, the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution where General Sam Houston successfully defeated the forces of Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna, was commissioned in October 1988.

During the warship’s lifespan, which spanned more than three decades, the USS San Jacinto received numerous awards, including a Naval Unit Commendation and a Presidential Unit Citation. The Ticonderoga-class cruiser was decommissioned in September 2023.

USS Montpellier was repaired and returned service. The incident occurred just two years after the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine underwent a $35 million renovation and modernization.

Commissioned in March 1983, SSN-765 was noted for being the first submarine to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles during Operation Iraqi Freedom of 2003. For firing all 20 of its missiles while under under the command of Commander William Frake, the boat was awarded a “free hit”. In 2015 the crew also received the prestigious Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy Award for 2015 for the greatest improvement over the previous year.

Experience and expertise of the author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a writer based in Michigan. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites with more than 3,200 articles published during a twenty-year career in journalism. He writes regularly on military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing writer for Forbes and Liquidation Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can send an email to the author: (email protected).

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