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USS Connecticut (SSN 22) leaves Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for sea trials after a maintenance job on Dec. 14, 2016. US Navy Photo
The attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN-22) pulled into San Diego, California, Sunday morning after crossing the surface of the Pacific Ocean in a collision in the South China Sea.
Ship observer WarshipCam has for the first time released a photo of the Seawolf-class attack submarine entering San Diego Harbor early Sunday.
BREAKING: USS Connecticut (SSN 22) Seawolf-class nuclear submarine arrives in San Diego – note obvious damage to bow – December 12, 2021 #ussconnecticut # ssn22 pic.twitter.com/vNT7sTPzod
– WarshipCam (@WarshipCam) December 12, 2021
The submarine crossed the Pacific Ocean entirely on the surface due to damage sustained in an October collision, several Navy officials confirmed to USNI News. The boat’s sonar dome became inoperative as a result of the collision, making it unsafe to travel underwater.
Connecticut encountered an unmapped seamount in the South China Sea in early October, a collision that damaged the ballast tanks and the front of the boat, USNI News previously reported.
After the boat reached the seamount, the boat sailed on the surface to Guam and arrived on October 8 for initial repairs and a damage assessment. The submarine left Guam last month.
BREAKING: USS Connecticut (SSN 22) Seawolf-class nuclear submarine arrives in San Diego December 12, 2021 #ussconnecticut # ssn22 pic.twitter.com/vnesi5xDRB
– WarshipCam (@WarshipCam) December 12, 2021
The Bremerton, Washington-based boat is due for additional repairs at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, which is already in a maintenance backlog. Why the boat entered San Diego on Sunday morning is unclear.
After an investigation into the collision, the commander of the US 7th Fleet, Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, dispatched the commander, executive officer and boss of the boat “because of a loss of confidence”.
The collision also resulted in the Navy’s submarine forces calling for a “navigation standdown” last month.
“We have very strict navigational safety procedures and they have fallen short of our standards,” said Naval Submarine Forces commander Vice Admiral William Houston of the boat’s operation last month.
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