Commodore's Masts

Originally posted 0534 22 March:

It sounds like they're done with the Commodore's Masts for the San Francisco. With previous subs that have gotten into trouble (Greeneville, OKC) the Navy has announced in general that other officers and enlisted men were punished without listing the specific charges and "awards". Therefore, you won't hear it first from me, either. I have heard that the San Fran will have an awards ceremony on Friday, so we'll see if any of the punished Sailors also get awards; I would certainly hope they would if they're deserved...

Staying at PD...

Update 1825 22 March: Here's the Navy Times story on the Masts. Excerpt:

"...reliable sources told Navy Times that those punished included the heavily damaged submarine’s executive officer, navigator, assistant navigator and three petty officers. The assistant navigator is a senior chief petty officer who had qualified for that duty. Sources also said that the three more junior sailors reportedly each lost a stripe, with one first class petty officer reduced to second class and two second classes reduced to third.
"The Navy has not yet released any of its investigations into the mishap but given the initial punishments, it appears that much of the blame has been placed on the submarine’s voyage planning process. In Mooney’s case, Greenert concluded, according to a spokesman, that “several critical navigational and voyage planning procedures were not being implemented aboard San Francisco. By not ensuring these standard procedures were followed, Mooney hazarded his vessel.”
"Once a submarine’s superior command orders a sub to deploy and issues a basic track or operating area, the sub’s navigation team is totally responsible for properly planning the route, according to U.S. Submarine Forces in Norfolk. The actual charts and plan are prepared and approved by, in order, the sub’s assistant navigator, navigator, executive officer and commanding officer, according to the Norfolk command.
"Davis said the Guam command does not anticipate disciplining any other crewmembers as a result of the mishap."

posted by Bubblehead @ 8:46 AM