The US submarine of the Seawolf class crashed into an “underwater mountain” at speed: what is the reason (video)

The USS Connecticut submarine is equipped with 533 mm Mark 48 torpedoes , Tomahawk cruise missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. With such expensive weapons on board, any underwater encounter would be fraught with serious casualties.

In October 2021, the US Navy Seawolf-class submarine USS Connecticut collided with an underwater mountain in the South China Sea. The boat was traveling at high speed in poorly explored waters. As a result, eleven sailors were injured. About it writes The National Interest.

In the official report of the US Navy, the incident was explained by an error in navigational planning and malfunctions in the work of the watch group. Some analysts have speculated that a huge vortex seen in the area could be the cause, but the theory is still unconfirmed. The USS Connecticut is undergoing repairs and is expected to return to service in 2025.

How the USS Connecticut submarine hit a seamount

It has been more than three years since the USS Connecticut (SSN- 22) collided with an underwater mountain — or with what is called an underwater mountain, because there are different opinions.

On October 2, 2021, a US Navy Seawolf-class submarine ran aground, injuring eleven sailors. But Rear Admiral Christopher Kavanaugh, who at the time headed the investigation, reported that a collision with a shoal at such a speed and depth could have led to much more serious consequences, the loss of people and even the loss of the ship.

Causes of the collision

The high-speed attack submarine USS Connecticut is considered one of the most advanced vessels in its class. It can move silently and work at depth. The cost of a submarine — 3.5 billion dollars, it remains the most important component of the US Navy's deterrence strategy.

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Connecticut is home to some of the most sophisticated submarine warfare technology ever created. The boat is equipped with 533 mm Mark 48 torpedoes, Tomahawk cruise missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

With such powerful and expensive weapons on board the boat, any underwater engagement is fraught with serious casualties.

As a submarine the boat crashed into the mountain

According to the official report, the collision “was the result of an accumulation of errors and omissions in navigational planning.” At the same time, they did not follow the standards of the US Navy. Careful decision-making and following the necessary procedures could have prevented the stranding.

The Stars and Stripes publication also noted that before the accident, “at least one sailor found sonar readings that did not match the navigation chart of the underwater area.” However, the officer on deck did not report the danger to the commander of the submarine Connecticut, who was on duty.

The vortex theory

Some analysts doubt that the cause could be a huge vortex that was discovered during the collision.

In September 2021, researchers from Beijing recorded a huge eddy in the South China Sea. The eddy could have continued until October when the accident occurred, as such phenomena can last from several weeks to several months.

This theory has not been confirmed or disproved and remains one of the real explanations for the USS Connecticut's grounding. .

The U.S. Navy eventually said the collision was indeed preventable.

In the past few years, the U.S. has prioritized training and certification to prevent similar incidents in the future. Amid tensions between Washington and Beijing in these waters, it is critical for the U.S. Navy that submarines perform as they should.

Submarine USS Connecticut runs aground

Connecticut is undergoing major repairs following collision. The submarine is expected to return to service in 2025.