Submarine Slices Ship in Half

[@jjason18795]

I'd just like to say I really appreciate the way you tell these stories, no unnecessary over top sense of drama or impending danger. Simple, straight and clear telling of each turn of events. Not only is it the most respectful to everyone involved, but it's also the best way to educate.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks. I appreciate the comment

[@hellohelloington9442]

Exactly this - this is why I love this channel! Keep doing what you do :)

[@smedleyx]

as an example 28:45 this is exactly the kind of seemingly minor detail that helps us laypersons know why an IRL sub isn't able to fetch people out of the water in 20 seconds like they can do in hollywood

[@AngusSuter]

Yes, so true. He tells the story once, and in detail. Makes it very interesting.

[@deeacosta2734]

Yes. He’s an incredible narrator and story teller.

[@brentgranger7856]

I served on USS Greeneville briefly from November through December, 1999. As a non-qualified (in submarines) radioman I got to know many of the names mentioned in the video such as Commander Waddle, Lt.Cdr Pfeifer, and some of the other crew of the submarine. I admit I thought very highly of Captain Waddle. He was a very aggressive skipper, whom was yelled at by the USS John Stennis battle group admiral when our boat was labeled as “too aggressive” during our 1999 war game off San Diego when our boat absolutely embarrassed him and his CVSG. My first time meeting him he instantly recognized my Texas accent since he was from Austin. If Captain Waddle had one major flaw it was lack of faith in his officers, as it was his tendency to rip the conn away from the officer of the deck when things were going badly (as the author mentioned he did just before the collision). He did this once while I was aboard during a coolant spill drill. When the WEPS made the mistake of sounding the power plant casualty alarm, he immediately took the conn and embarrassed WEPS in front of everyone. Something missing from the video was the electronic warfare operator on watch (a personal friend of mine) told me that he reported a close contact. If Ehime Maru ran a standard surface search radar, then (per my experience) the radar would’ve been very loud over the conn speakers. My only guess is Captain Waddle knew he was behind schedule, and, upon sighting nothing, initiated the EMBT.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks for adding this context. It's great to hear from someone closer to the story. 👌🏻

[@brentgranger7856]

@@waterlinestories You’re welcome! I did find your video to be very good despite a few minor problems. I did read Captain Waddle’s book “The Right Thing” for some of the exposition. I remember that we attacked the USS John Stennis that morning at exactly 6:00:00 am local time once, as I was the electronic warfare operator. What did that mean? Greeneville shot a “water slug” (torpedo tube shot with no torpedo loaded) at the carrier at the exact moment we had permission to fire for the exercise. We also successfully sank the USS Asheville twice, the USS Jefferson City 8 times, and attacked the USS John Stennis 3 times. The simulation registered we hit the Stennis at least once. This is what I meant by we were “too aggressive.” I laugh at it because it showed either how good Greeneville was at sinking enemy warships and/or how bad the Stennis CSG was at anti-submarine operations. One other story I have was an incident while we were in Esquimalt, Canada when some locals attacked some of my shipmates. We were out past curfew (midnight), so I called for a cab to get my drunk buddies back to the boat. All of us but one (me) were restricted to the submarine. Because some of my buddies personally vouched for my integrity, the Chief of the Boat (COB) did not restrict me to the boat. The same day, I learned I had been promoted, and Captain Waddle refused to give me the promotion. He said my own CO of my actual submarine, Commander Stacia of USS Cheyenne, deserved that honor instead. Captain Stacia would also congratulated me after Captain Waddle sent him a message.

[@XXSkunkWorksXX]

@@brentgranger7856 Most interesting Brent - I enjoyed reading your addendum as much as I did watching The WaterLineStory! As a land lubber currently as far away from the sea as it's possible to get in the United Kingdom - around 80 miles - can I ask: Would that torpedo have sunk the CVN-74 in a real life non-wargame encounter? Thx.

[@miapdx503]

​@@brentgranger7856Awesome, thank you for this first person account! You add so much to this telling. Thank you for serving sir, I salute you! 🌹⚓

[@thomaskositzki9424]

@@XXSkunkWorksXX If I may answer in place: A single torpedo doesn't sink a CV. They are quite tough. But it may cause serious trouble like destroying/disabling one or several screws or one or both rudders. Base line: having a modern heavy torpedo hit your CV is bad.

[@DanteTheAbyssalBeing]

I'm not a sea faring chap, but it seems to me that filling your control room to its limit with non-Navy people chatting and getting in the way, while you're performing difficult combat manoeuvres, is a recipe for a terrible disaster.

[@jeffdo9195]

Chap?

[@DanteTheAbyssalBeing]

@@jeffdo9195 Queen's English word for bloke, guy, dude, gentleman etc.

[@johnwright7895]

​@@jeffdo9195ignorant.

[@Scottyg8050]

@@DanteTheAbyssalBeingthanks chap

[@BlackSheep_216]

Chap😂😂

[@jiyushugi1085]

Excellent presentation of the 'e-hi-me' Maru accident, but one which neglects to mention some key failings of Cdr. Waddle and his crew which led to the accident. I was hired by Fuji TV to interpret and translate for their journalists who were covering the board of inquiry. Many journalists from major news organizations were also there and we watched a direct feed of the inquiry at a remote location. The testimony and cross-examination of Cdr. Waddle and the crew was quite dramatic, as were the reactions of those Greenville officers who shared responsibility for the accident and whose careers were ruined as a result. Ironically, according to navy regulations Greenville shouldn't even have given the VIP ride, as such ride-alongs were only permitted during scheduled training events. However, word came down from above that these VIPs were to be given a ride regardless. Thus, the tired crew were recalled from their well-earned time ashore to give a joy ride.Only on the last day of the inquiry did Waddle's excellent attorney (A Mr. Gittens, as I recall), dropped a clue as why this was and that he would be sure to bring this matter up if Cdr. Waddle were to be court-martialed. Apparently, some (or, many) of the VIPs were executives and family members)of oil companies that suppled the navy with petroleum products. I hope that someday a movie or book will cover this tragedy more comprehensively......

[@charlieross-BRM]

Good background information to know. And I would have missed your input if I didn't stop watching this video for an overnight break and finished watching today, then finally read the comments.

[@snuffle2269]

Excellent information WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT. This goes on frequently in all branches of our military. I was expecting these were legislators on a VIP trip that weren't happy with Navy spending and delivery time on war ships.

[@jiyushugi1085]

The story becomes even more unpleasant when you learn who it was in the navy hierarchy that demanded the ride-along and why he had been relieved of his position in Japan.......

[@insanimal2]

@@jiyushugi1085please do tell

[@cliffontheroad]

@@snuffle2269 Good comments.Slightly related, is legislators have pressured spending when the Navy determined a project should be $hitcanned. (refurbished 2 ships cause the shipyard was in his district.)

[@terryjohnsen1689]

A perfect example of the 'holes in 'Swiss cheese' lining up to create this tragedy. The whole idea of distinguished visitors joy riding on a nuclear submarine is a bad idea, especially when pushing the submarine to the limit, with visitor crowded work areas hampering the crew. Obviously, an activity implemented by a bureaucrat that I'm sure was discontinued after the incident? Thanks for your fantastic presentation. 👏

[@colinofay7237]

They should sell guest places, would be fun as f

[@ivarwind]

The DVE definitely should have been discontinued, but shockingly it was not! Maybe they've introduced all sorts of restrictions on extreme maneuvers, tight schedules, and cutting corners for the benefit of VIPs, but as long as the primary reason - the unnnecessary distractions - is allowed to persist, something like this will happen again some day.

[@warlockd]

@@ivarwind You sadly cannot separate the military from politics. They still could of taken two trips or removed the amount of people in the ship.

[@kakashisensei38]

You must be a mentor pilot watcher

[@collectorguy3919]

VIPs are often impatient and ignorant. Performing a good show must have a negative effect on safety, but a positive effect on the budget.

[@Stefanakos246]

I can’t understand how a modern US nuclear submarine does not spot a 200 foot ship in a less than one mile radius from their position, that is the most disturbing aspect of this accident.

[@joedingo7022]

He explained it pretty well, sonar struggles to look in the same direction you are currently traveling but excels at angles. So not giving priority to protocol kinda screws up the entire process.

[@coldpotatoes2556]

You'd think they'd have created some other systems of detection besides sonar for redundancy?

[@sd70cal]

@@coldpotatoes2556 as soon as the laws of physics change they will.

[@coldpotatoes2556]

@@sd70calwell there's: 50/50, call a friend & ask an audience member.

[@sd70cal]

@@coldpotatoes2556 You could do that but if they have any relevant knowledge in the this area they will tell you the same thing. I spent many years on submarines working with VLF, video, HF, microwave, IR, microwave, UHF, and VHF systems, and many years as an instructor on some of those systems. Besides sound, what other method of detection do you think would be effective for underwater use? This was a command problem. As indicated by another poster on this thread this captain did not create a command structure that allowed for healthy bottom to top communication. Squadron and Group command bear some of the responsibility for not detecting and correcting a toxic command structure.

[@BarafuAlbino]

Thank you for those videos. I am literally as far from any transportation as can be. I am sitting in rural Syberia, making sure that people who want to waste their time watching cat videos can do so cheaply. Yet watching detailed technical analysis of various techno disasters has taught me greatly on the general principles of interactions between humans and systems, where most problems originate from. I'd not learn that from any book on systems thinking, and I've read some. This channel goes straight into the same folder as Mentour Pilot, Plainly Difficult, Defunctland, and Brick Immortar.

[@Shinzon23]

Anti Assad I'm hoping?

[@monkeynova2012]

@@Shinzon23he said Siberia not Syria! 😂

[@waterlinestories]

👍🏻

[@cuckerdoddle183]

Fun fact about Cats they like to meow

[@HarryLime-ge6dc]

Hello from western NC, USA!

[@top_gallant]

The backlash to that was intense. I remember the public was incredibly upset and wanted a court martial.

[@aj.j5833]

So did many of who were in the USN as submariners. This actually mad many of very angry. If they did things properly this would of never happened.

[@top_gallant]

@@aj.j5833 In one year The U.S.S. Cole incident, the Greenville and then the Naval EP-3E ARIES that the Chinese forced down. It was an odd year for the Navy.

[@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24]

​@@top_gallantUS Navy is past it's prime. This commander wobbly waddle man is a prime example of arrogance and incompetence.

[@AndreasGlad-rq7vx]

Emotional idiots. Shit happens. Not worth losing a sub commander for.

[@underbutlers]

I'll be honest, after reading a bunch of MAIB reports for fatal incidents involving merchant ships, and the prosecutions for those, the lightness/absence of punishment is remarkable. Then again, given thats a theme of US military personnel being reckless and killing foreign citizens, like the fighter jets that skewered a cable car in Italy, i don't know why I'm surprised. Just kind of ridiculous to me, since this feels like it breaches a number of IMO collision regulations (at least if it were not naval, ive never had a need to look into that side of them)

[@SqueakyBe]

23:45 - "all crammed in the control room packed together like kittens about to be drowned in a bathtub" Personally I would have said packed together like sardines but erm, you do you I guess. 😄 Disclaimer: Please don't drown kittens

[@evanhughes3027]

I thought that same thing. The audience here does not drown kittens in the bathtub.

[@gordonpeden6234]

"packed together like kittens (in a sack) about to be drowned in a bathtub." WS has a dark past?

[@SqueakyBe]

@@gordonpeden6234 I was expecting the story to take a more sinister twist, but wasn't the one I was expecting.

[@Me-zo8yc]

It clearly worked as a metaphor as it caused some provocation and a reaction.

[@SqueakyBe]

@@Me-zo8yc That's true. Hope it's not a new trend for WS. "The Captain grabs the helm tightly in the storm like he's choking a defensless gopher..."

[@hansb.8]

US Nuclear Submarine hits a German Cargo Ship in Nov 1972. on the US East Coast. The Weather was bad, the sea was rough and still the US submarine decided to a sneak attack exersice close to the surfase and shortly after 8 am hit the Ship MV " Hagen" from Hapag Lloyd. I was on that Ship on the Bridge at that moment. One Cargo Hold was flooded but otherwise we where ok. We went to Baltimore and our ship was put in a dry dock for repair.

[@kittichord]

I had never heard about this incident. Thanks for sharing.

[@hansb.8]

@@kittichord Thank you for your feed back.

[@hansb.8]

@@kittichord yes, the Press kept it is very low profile and only a small Artikel was printed in one of the local papers and the NY times. BUt one Radio Staion made us a bit famous. When we went to some Bars in the evening we were very welcome and myself, not 18 back them was allowed inside - so we could tell the stort FIRST Hand !!!!

[@fabbrorandomlife]

In 2023 a friend of mine brought me to the see baptism, the i started looking videos about scuba diving and found your channel. I loved your content and also your PADI tutorial. Now i'm advanced open water. Your passion and your narrative skills are part of the reason for my love for this. THANKS❤

[@robedwards6541]

The captain of the sub actually wrote a book about this. He owned it, he even went to Japan and addressed the families of those killed. He was an honorable person that made a disastrous mistake.

[@goofyiest]

And, he didn't 'own it.'

[@Jay-yy9ol]

His decisions caused the accident. He is responsible.

[@dabprod]

He retires with his military pension and wrote a book. Oh.....but he had to apologize for his screw-up. He was show-boating and caused this disaster and loss of life. Wonder what he made off the book....?

[@sparkie5618]

I can't blame the captain of the sub everyone here is acting like it's the captains fault it's caused by faulty equipment not any fault of any crew sometimes accidents happen and sometimes accidents kill people it was no one's fault

[@rudolfthecat1176]

​@@sparkie5618 except it was the captains fault (as he is in charge of his crew). He shouldn't have put so much pressure on his crew. If the crew had more breathing room they might have assessed the situation differently and been able to complete the proper procedures, reducing the chance of hitting the fishing vessle to almost 0.

[@Jim-ok9zi]

You may want to consider doing a episode on the Australian navy Aircraft Carrier HMAS Melbourne which was involved in 2 major peace time accidents. One in 1964 then again in 1969, Both incidents involved collisions with other war ships which sank costing a considerable loss of life. From my memory both war ships that the HMAS Melbourne struck were split in half. The incidents were with HMAS voyager 1964.then the USS Frank Evans in 1969. Your postings are always interesting and well researched. 👍

[@waterlinestories]

👍🏻

[@rustyford3406]

The night before the accident we ate at the second-floor restaurant at Aloha Tower next to where boat was docked, and I watched the crew come and go as we ate. After the sinking I wondered how many of those boys were lost the next day, very sad

[@gowdsake7103]

The so called accident was manslaughter

[@berzoidberg3272]

@@gowdsake7103yes, that’s the term we use when a killing is accidental…

[@ivarwind]

@@berzoidberg3272 Not exactly, no - manslaughter is non-intentional. That's not the same as accidental. Given the details in the video, if it is anywhere near correct, this was not accidental. Skipping safety precautions to perform unnecessary extreme maneuvers just to impress distinguished guests on a tight schedule, is not something you do by accident. But it needs saying that the main responsibility lies with the people (higher up the command chain), who came up with the hare-brained idea of DVE to begin with, rather than the captain and crew who just happened to be the ones for whom all the holes lined up.

[@Seltkirk-ABC]

Same bro my dad's uncle was on that sub

[@RaceChapman]

@@ivarwind you’re confusing accidental with preventable. this is textbook manslaughter. similar to if you are street racing and hit a pedestrian. it was not done with malice or intent to harm, but due to negligence or any other means

[@willjones6814]

Oh my, this brings back memories. I actually worked in the ER at the hospital the students and crew were brought to on Oahu. My shift started at 7pm so I wasn't there for their initial arrival,, but I still vividly remember the whole department smelled like diesel fuel from the survivors. And I also remember being puzzled there were no Navy representatives there, even hours later, just Japanese Embassy(?), etc. officials. In retrospect I guess that makes sense, that the Navy was staying far away from the medical treatment while they figured out how the hell this happened, And thanks for these details about what exactly happened in the accident, it was hard to get a lot of information back then.

[@westrim]

Unfortunately the right thing to do legally can often feel like the callous thing to do morally. Legally, the Navy was right to stay away; if there had been Navy personnel there, that might be construed as trying to leverage the Japanese survivors in some way, regardless of intent. Similarly, apology=admission of guilt=never apologize is another sad collision of law and morality.

[@ald1144]

When I was in tbe army Commander Waddle gave a talk at one of our "safety day" events. I think making himself relive the events publicly may have been a way of paying penance. He talked about the guilt and thoughts of suicide. Such a tragedy.

[@eardw2251]

I knew him. Most arrogant SOB I ever met. That crap in the video about enlisted guys liking him is comple BS.

[@jenswetter251]

Sharing suicidal thoughts helps preventing suicide; in this case, it seems to convey the whole extent of feelings about guilt. Always listen carefully if someone mentions such thoughts and take them seriously, be open to talk about them, offer getting help

[@mochiboot6502]

Unbelievably brash conduct on behalf of the commander and even some of the crew, it sounds like. What, ppl decided to abandon protocol cus they had a bunch of civvies on board? Yikes....

[@sharon4598]

Giving talks is one way he earns money. Those talks are not free. He charges from $10,000 to $20,000 for an event. Don't believe this? Look it up on the internet. Maybe he gave the army a discount.

[@sd70cal]

It is also a narcissist way of turning their failure into a vote of sympathy. If he is taking payments for these "penance forums" I wouldn't give his feelings of guilt much respect.

[@Petter1900]

Excellent video! Your presentation style makes every topic easy to understand and engage with. Thank you

[@k53847]

The sonar subs use is almost always passive, they are locating surface ships be the sound of their engines and props. There are no pings.

[@rainaldkoch9093]

Almost allways and surely in this case. Otherwise the distances would not have been uncertain.

[@602STS2]

True. The pinging sound effects are false.

[@lukebrooks3240]

as a former sonar technician on a submarine you are absolutely correct. Active sonar gives away your position instantly. A simple range formula called Ping Steal is used

[@HarryShagnasty-sc9zd]

Same here, just from a different Navy.

[@spvillano]

@@lukebrooks3240 and as was explained, takes a substantial amount of time and repeated readings to assess a contact's course and speed. Although, tossing water slugs out tends to announce your presence to the ocean at large too. Plus the high speed evolutions and gyrations like a stripper at the jiggle joint on payday. All, for a dog and pony show for some executives. I'm sure some Admiral was pleased with the return on investment. Total goat screw from start to finish. Don't belong on the boat, don't board the damned boat and let the crew do their jobs.

[@xanderunderwoods3363]

I can't believe he wasn't court-martialed

[@returnofthenative]

He wasn't court-martialed because that would draw out & bring into prominence the fact that elites are abusing their positions of power in order to arrange joy rides on a capital military asset, at the expense of the taxpayers, & whose only proper use is in defense of the nation.

[@PISQUEFrancis]

Especially to decide a sonar that hadn't worked for a year(?), was not needed, along with insufficient perpendicular travel to fix the ships locations, and, of course, not searching the entire horizon with the periscope.

[@JohnDumas-w5z]

He wasn't court marshaled because someone higher up ordered him to take these "VIP's" on an afternoon demonstration cruise. Cdr. Waddle surely would have disclosed who provided this command. Commanders do NOT take submarines out for a fun cruise out of their own volition. Someone higher up in the chain of command is responsible even if Cdr. Waddle was showing off and negligent in his duties. I agree that he should have been court marshaled, but so should some captains and some admirals. That's why he was just kicked out of the club.

[@trevormenning2008]

I served on the Greeneville earlier this year and I’m a Sonar Tech. Our systems have limitations. The Navy has been making great strides to improve the system. When a boat changes depth the display may can have some brief moments of blind spots or inaccurate data. Thinking about the old crappy systems and throwing the system affects into it, it’s not entirely surprising this happened. There are a lot of physics and environmental effects that can impact the performance of these systems. This accident could have been avoidable with less distracts of the guests on board, but we have new rules and regulations in place to prevent this after other accidents since this event as well.

[@Aotearoa_Kiwi]

If the boat's systems have limitations, then it wasn't a great idea to breach the surface at speed ... especially in busy coastal waters, and without thoroughly checking the surface with the periscope.

[@kevinlee6003]

I don't think it's a great idea to be giving information like this to the public... at all. Pretty sure the Navy wouldn't want inside information of any potential weakness exposed. Thanks for the inside scoop though. They need to fix this risk factor ASAP

[@LemonCamel]

This channel is so well done. Solid schedule and excellent content without the annoying crap others put in their videos.

[@waterlinestories]

👌🏻 thanks

[@miapdx503]

Yes, this guy really puts in work! Every video is so well done, and he seamlessly gives us nautical terms and explains them. I feel like I've learned something. 🌹👍🏽💯

[@GuttenfraVrnes-mo9uv]

A very well-presented documentary. Thank you. I have been in a similar situation where 82 souls were lost to the sea. Listening to the commentary here, I believe a court marshall should have existed. It would have helped relatives of those who would never come home again. May they all RIP.

[@waterlinestories]

👌🏻

[@Multicammies]

That one person that stayed back from the combat demonstrations due to sea sickness must have lost it when they started the angels and dangles lol

[@kimberlyfrost7394]

This is the perfect argument for not taking war ships out for "joy rides." Especially not on nuclear subs!!! Not only an incident like this happening, but there are aspects of a subs capabilities that do not need to be seen by John Q Public. I'm good with not knowing how it all works as ling as it works to protect our interests.

[@charliekendall4288]

Adm Halsey is reputed to have said "You can go from being the best officer in the navy to being the worst officer in the navy in about 10 minutes."

[@allangibson8494]

And Halsey ran a fleet into two different typhoons resulting in the loss of multiple ships…

[@MegaEmmanuel09]

​@@allangibson8494 damn 😅

[@unutilisateurgoogle7328]

That was *at war*. Totally different context.

[@shatnersufolanded7785]

​My grandad was in the USS Tingey under Halsey I got to hear many surprising stories in 2021 when he passed,he was 97.​ I heard all about the Typhoon and rescuing men from the water@@allangibson8494

[@shatnersufolanded7785]

My grandad served on the USS Tingey under him alot of stories he told me before he passed 3 years ago at 97.

[@johnvaleanbaily246]

The commander is ALWAYS responsible.

[@zen4men]

As my father discovered in similar circumstances - HMS Talent 1956. And rightly so. Command is a very lonely job. /

[@colinmartin9797]

well I could have certainly gone without the mental image of "kittens about to be drowned in a bathtub" lol

[@anaconda7184]

Me too, horrible.

[@piratedaveyjones1903]

Yeah, those poor kittens. Just awful.

[@colinmartin9797]

@@piratedaveyjones1903 To heck with the humans! WHAT ABOUT THE IMAGINARY KITTENS.

[@piratedaveyjones1903]

@@colinmartin9797 Meow!!

[@nelsonbrandt7847]

Excellent job putting this together so well. I really appreciate the final product. Very informative.

[@waterlinestories]

👍🏻 thanks

[@ralphrepo]

I can't believe Waddle was given a pass on this. I can understand why though. Had they found him guilty of anything, it would have been tacit admission that the US Navy screwed up and that would have brought a whole other ball of political wax. He not only should have been court martialed but indicted for criminally negligent homicide as well.

[@minimal3734]

If one thing is obvious it is 'that the US Navy screwed up', no admission required for that.

[@sqike001ton]

it's Japanese American relations its complicated especially back then japan doesn't like the US being in their backyard the general Japanese xenophobia means they don't want the us there and do like dealing with them that being said the past 10 years has changed that as china has become a threat japan wants the US near but maybe stationed in the Philippines or Australia that all being said for jump street this was political and orders probably came down to sweep it under the rug and had it been any other country but japan it would have been sweep under the rug quietly as the us government would have just paid alot of cash to the families to go away

[@brettcleveland6335]

​@@sqike001tondidn't it happen south of Hawaii?

[@Jean-vr7vj]

Dude, they paid their way out. As money washes all guilt, "Laws and rules are only for the poor" takes effect.

[@racketyjack7621]

Outstanding story VERY well told. I was surface Navy back in the late '70's, early '80's. But a lot of what you mentioned applied to us as well. I remember this incident in the news. Very tragic. You fleshed out the story for me. What troubles me is it seems there was not one or two mistakes but a series of them. You NEVER assume anything; you always double check. Communication is life and it seems there was not enough of that by sonar or fire control. The mis-spoke contact number was just one example. Too many people in the way is not enough of an excuse not to update plot. OOD was not focused or completely aware. Despite the display being out, there were other options. Redundancy is there for a reason. And failing to make turns to improve contact solutions was a MAJOR flaw on his part. Being behind schedule is not an excuse. Everything still needs to be done according to the book and protocol. 9 dead is why. And in all this, it is ultimately the captain's responsibility. I am truly surprised this didn't go to court martial.

[@waterlinestories]

👍🏻

[@gayprepperz6862]

Otherwise called a 688, Los Angeles Class Nuclear Attack Sub (SSN). I do like your objectivity on the subject matter of your videos, and you don't pretend to have any particular proficiency either. You've made another fan with a great respect for your work. Another great video! 👍

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks👍🏻

[@geobus3307]

Incredible narration breaking down the technical aspects in easily absorbed language!

[@K4M1K423]

I only come across this channel randomly a week ago, but it's already become a go-to for this type of content. Thank you.

[@waterlinestories]

👍🏻 thanks, welcome aboard

[@sirwholland7]

I may have missed it. The Greenville would normally navigate inertially with the contacts plotted using passive sonar (listening not actively pinging). The angles and dangles would degrade the inertial navigation but land fixes (mountain and airport) should have been fed into the inertial navigation data on the OODs periscope sweep. You don’t mention surface sea conditions until well into the unfolding of events. The “sea state” plays an important role in detecting and maintaining tracts and can negatively impact passive detection and tracking of surface contacts (produced as “Sierra one zero, one one etc) and that is further degraded by high speed maneuvers. I’m surprised that the Navy did not conduct a courts marshal. The Greenville conducted an emergency surface drill without basic range safety. That normally includes radar sweeps and use of the ESM antenna (providing line of barring information on surface contacts operating their radars) to ensure the range is clear of contacts. It sounds as if none of the normal steps for ensuring a safe and clear area before the emergency surface drill were conducted and that is negligence in the safe operation and command of Greenville. One minor note. In the US Navy, submariner is pronounced sub-marine-er not sub-mariner - they get a little touchy about that.

[@57thorns]

There are two reason I can see for not having a court martial, reading your take on this: 1 - Waddle was (ostensibly) very popular, and he had friends in high places (a crew member? elsewhere talks about the frequent VIP tours) 2 - This was not the only time corners had been cut for VIP operations. A court martial after this public accident would have been a very public affair, and it might have come out that this neglect was normal during VIP tours.

[@subman721]

I don’t think we are touchy about be called Sub-mariners at all!

[@jamesconner3437]

@@subman721 When I was in surface ships, you would hear about 50/50 from us.....I always wondered.

[@TroyBierkortte]

@@subman721 hell no. Half of us say it the wrong way ourselves.

[@fasfan]

As a submariner myself, it always seemed to be the know-it-all annoying guys that cared how it was pronounced. I didn't care and neither did many others I served with. All that mattered was that we were submariners. Qualified in the best damn sub force and part of a long and storied lineage of steely eyed killers of the deep. Submarines once! Submarines twice!

[@Dioramarama_Collectibles]

One thing that ceases to amaze me is that, as vast as the ocean is, ships still collide with each other

[@zen4men]

Karma!

[@robertonavarro7713]

Maybe all things happening in this world, deaths, accidents, wars, etc., were all programmed to happen. Perhaps there is no such thing as "accidents". Just my own opinion.

[@sergioortiz8219]

In the early 90s, Waddle was the engineer on the Kentucky Gold crew. I was a newly reported ensign to the Blue crew, which was in its off-crew rotation (meaning the Gold crew had the sub and was preparing to take it out). So someone from my crew offered (ordered? I don't remember) to take me down to the boat to get my first look at it. So I did, and we're walking through the engine room, which was mostly empty, and we're in middle level, walking by one of the motor generators, and I see an electrician standing by it and two legs sticking out of it. The person who was escorting me peeked in, talked to the guy inside, and out popped Waddle, his hands absolutely black with dust from the MG set. My escort introduces me to him and he sticks his hand out to shake mine, and I instinctively look down at it, see it's covered in soot, he does the same, and apologizes for his dirty hand. I don't remember if I shook it or not. And that's my Scott Waddle story.

[@zen4men]

Sounds like a good officer, not scared to get his hands dirty. My father was Captain of HM Submarine Talent in 1956, and was lightly struck by a ship, ending his career, from RNC Dartmouth age 13 in 1936, to First Lieutenant on HMS Torbay with a DSC by 1945. He married my mother, became a farm manager in South Devon, England, where he raised the best-tasting beef on the planet. He was a hard man to know, probably as his late teens were spent at war, but the ethos of Dartmouth helped shape my life. Even though I took to the army blood in my family, I owe my existence to a ship-submarine collision! /

[@Sir_Longdink]

And you are sticking to it 😂

[@bretfranklin2558]

I served under CDR Waddle on the Gold crew on the 737. He was the ship's Engineer at the time. He was still being "built up" in those days, seeking and learning the valuable skills that would be required of him in the years to come, mostly from the senior enlisted (CPO's). Some years later I (and a fellow shipmate from the 737) bumped into him and had a great conversation and congratulated him on his selection to what I consider to be the most demanding position in the entire US military, Submarine Skipper. My friend and I were shocked at the event that occurred some months later and convinced each other that we would never had let it occur because we knew Skippers require the forceful backup of their subordinates and put that principle into practice at all times. I haven't finished watching this video nor have I read Mr. Waddle's book so please spare me the corrections already forming in the minds of some of you, So I leave you with this: the fast attack Skipper is one of a kind and I had the good fortune to serve under some of the best, those who were well seasoned long before I raised my hand to be there with them. Had the Greeneville not had this encounter perhaps Mr. Waddle may have been counted among those "Seasoned" few.

[@billhiggins-ha4all795]

​@@bretfranklin2558 Scott and I were friends and classmates.

[@cokiea57]

When an officer offers a handshake you take it to prove you're not a girl. We invented soap and water.

[@kayjay135]

Viewer's logbook: watch experience debief: -Don't know, how I like those video editing transitions. Idk, maybe shorten the noise/fuzzy effect? Otherwise superb video: +++great script: +All my questions were answered almost immediately as they came up (like: whose job is it to track traffic? what's the updated data the fire control station has on c13? whats the position/depth of the sub after the crash?...). I wasn't left wondering how or why. +I felt like having a very good overview of the sequence of events. I especially liked, that there was no gap in regards to the subs course/maneuvers! +I did not feel disoriented, as in, the information given was never too much to process. +perfect pacing. Never felt rushed, never felt bored. +gripping writing. Starting with the bang and then jumping from the beginning, giving technical details as they became relevant - the suspense kept me deeply hooked. I have adhd and easily drift off, but not here. +++great editing: +I appreciate it very much when numbers are shown in text when they come up. Times, speeds, course, etc.. +the graphics of the layout of the bridge and the occupants, together with the clips of the folks on board, really gave me a sense of how it must've been there and it especially gave me a sense of plausibility, as to the mistakes that were made. +the faces or representation of given crew members really helps me following along. I am quick to overhear a word and miss, who is doing/saying whatever, but this way, I register whose actions are being described. +nice balance between narrator, graphics, b-roll +audio was and level. I could understand every word. Comments on subject: What a crazy story! I am surprised, I hadn't heard of it before. I guess, military crew should learn a bit of commercial piloting's Crew Resource Management and never feel, like they can't speak up. Time: 18:12:24 UTC Location: confidential

[@waterlinestories]

Wow that's actually really useful. Thanks for taking the time to debrief.

[@kayjay135]

@@waterlinestories :) In a community post in the past, you specifically asked for feedback on certain creative decisions. I therefore concluded, that you probably welcome feedback generally, and that's an attitude, I find very admirable and I like honing that. Being a creative myself, I like reflecting on what made a captivating experience such and what creative decisions might have contributed to it in what way. Glad I could be of service! Ahoy, over and out!

[@John-or4mn]

Spent 33 years in the US Navy before I retired as Master Chief Petty Officer served on Nimitz class and the George Bush Aircraft Carrier in charge of the Mess Galleys, I always hated guest tours and special invitees.

[@luislongoria6621]

??? No ship sails without its stewards. Special meals mark the passage of time

[@alexanderhamilton4258]

They suck purely because you suddenly go from cleaning because the boats actually messy or dirty, to cleaning just because the CO/COB (CMC) wants the guests to think we're the cleanest bastards ever. They know.

[@briantremblay9157]

Heck ya!!! Two videos almost back to back!!! Always great knowledge for a mariner...

[@waterlinestories]

👌🏻

[@TransNationNorthAmerica]

Lesson of the Day? Always always ALWAYS listen to the newbie. If the Lt Commander trusted the Junior sonar guy, none of this would have happened.

[@robinbailey7460]

Absolutely. If the Capt had a better attitude - two mentions of the Captain taking/grabbing - periscope was one - LtCom most likely learnt to be dismissive of the Junior unqualified sonor guy, from the Captain's lead.

[@busychild4395]

LT Scott Waddle was the officer on my qual board who qualified me submarines on the USS KENTUCKY.

[@arlenbell4376]

Nothing good ever comes from rushing a job. The captain has total responsibility for this tragedy.

[@robertonavarro7713]

The captain had orders to allow civilians (VIPs) to board his submarine. Who gave the authority because civilians are not supposed to be onboard a military vessel.

[@octowuss1888]

The joyrides were intended to show the public the quality of the US Navy. Mission accomplished - they can't find their own ass with both hands!

[@harveylong5878]

well in the US govt's mind, the civilian vessel touched their sub which in turn justified appropriate proportional response.

[@user-uh6kq2wh9g]

@@harveylong5878 Really reassuring to know how they would be able to respond when enemy vessels start touching their subs

[@aj.j5833]

They really use a very silly way to decide which sub used for the joyrides. When I was in USN my command was selected 3 time because we had greatest operation record, but denied because we weren't "proper USN sailors", who drank to much and we didn't keep our uniform up to USN standards (we kept them the minimal standard required, more busy keeping our boat running and operationally ready. We got surged more then any other commands to cover for them, because we were always ready.). They picked other commands who, knew how to look good, but they were constantly in port, they couldn't keep anything running right and they kept breaking things, but they looked good doing it.

[@piratedaveyjones1903]

Perhaps, but it I’m sure they could locate your dumb ass with one hand behind their back.

[@colinofay7237]

​@aj.j5833 that's very crazy

[@glennchartrand5411]

They dont use active sonar , it gives away the position of the submarine. There's no "pings" Thats why the Captain wasnt worried about one of the displays not working , its a system they almost never use. They only use passive sonar. -They listen to the sound of the surface ship -Then they determine what type of ship it is. -Then they determine how fast the propellor is turning. -From that they determine how much noise the surface contact should be making. -Then they compare the volume of the noise they hear vs what it actually is -Then they factor in sea conditions to get an estimate of the range of the surface contact. They NEVER have a 100% accurate picture of whats going on around them. They are basically walking blindfolded through the woods , they navigate the path completely through memory and dead reckoning while listening for threats and guessing how far away those threats are.

[@warmstrong5612]

You know what else gives the subs position away? High speed maneuvers. Active sonar would've given them a better track on nearby targets.

[@minimal3734]

How would they avoid to crash into a static obstacle which produces no sound?

[@Ragefps]

@@minimal3734 Charts I guess normally but I do recall another US nuke boat ended up hitting a subsea mountain a while back.

[@leonhardtkristensen4093]

@@minimal3734 By luck. It runs out some times.

[@alexanderhamilton4258]

@@minimal3734 Fathometer, basically the same as most merchant vessels use, and bottom mapping by surface ships or other subs that have passed by the area already.

[@davids1inwestholl45]

What a comprehensive, sobering, well-documented and detailed explanation of the sub crashing into and slicing thru the Japanese educational and training student fishing vessel. Such a terrible and avoidable tragedy. To the families who experienced such tremendous loss, I hope that their memories may be a blessing and comfort, especially through the most difficult times.😔

[@ozgott1415]

Excellent video... I always wondered what the details were in this event. One of the things I love the most about KZbin is that when events like this throughout history are presented like this in a thorough and professional way, the comments draw in the people that were close to the situation in one way or another and it gives the viewer an extra level of detail that you can't get from any other media.

[@waterlinestories]

I always think I learn more about an event after I post a video for that exact reason. Details that don’t come out in the research.

[@tomtrenter3208]

Former Coast Guard ST here..... A sub that's pinging is telling the wholeworld "here I am"! It also amazes me that almost every time Hollywood or others making videos that portray radar or sonar use the ridiculous stock sound effect "ping". I guess they feel they are showing something only insiders would know to make themselves feel smart. I remember hearing USS Greenville sinking a Japanese school ship on the news and wondered WTF. Why would a sub be doing these maneuvers and then following it up with an emergency blow without the operating area being clear and friendly surface ship keeping a lookout for trespassers and keeping Greenville informed??? It's real easy to see with all the visitors in Greenville's control room how confusing it would be, we had visitors in sonar/ CIC on occasion and it is very distracting trying to concentrate and communicate. God rest the poor souls lost on Ehime Maru.

[@Brian-nw2bn]

Freakin brilliant presentation mate! This was a riveting story I haven’t heard of before, which is rare on KZbin to come across something new in maritime disasters. Truly you are the best at explaining the story in a way that paints a vivid picture in my head. Looking forward to the next one, truly God bless you and yours my friend, liked and shared for what little it may help!

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks mate, I really appreciate that👌🏻

[@Brian-nw2bn]

@@waterlinestories of course! Just speaking the truth, you deserve much affirmation that the incredible amount of research that goes into making this sort of content and doing it the right way certainly doesn’t go unnoticed and is much appreciated. Just a request more than anything but I’ve found people really are captivated by disasters in the baring sea like crab boats and such, the rescues that go with those stories are incredible I’d love to hear you tell a few of those! Just a thought, anything you make is worthy of the cliche “ babe wake up waterline stories just posted “ hahah. Looking forward to whatever you got in store for us !

[@bill2066]

I have been on this Japanese Boat when I was a Kid In Honolulu (early 70's). They have/had visitation days, etc..They frequently docked in Honolulu Harbor as I recall. My dad was invited on these Sub cruises all the time when we lived in Honolulu. This was, of course, tragic.

[@jeffrapier947]

In all, not a bad retelling of the events that day. Waddle was a good guy, but he did sign us up for every shit duty and VIP cruise he could. With the boat being only five years since commissioning at the time, it was still considered shiny and new and better to show off than an outdated first flight LA boat, so we got tagged for a lot of those cruises. The whole point of the VIP cruises is to display the operational capabilities of a submarine to distinguished guests, so of course we did all the fun stuff. It really sucks for everyone involved that it had to lead to a freak accident.

[@kenkahre9262]

As an old sailor, I got that feeling about Waddel. Like maybe he was looking to spread his wings after his Navy career.

[@Operngeist1]

I wouldn't call it a freak accident if you do an emergency ascent without doing your due diligence of checking if there's actually nothing around. It might have been unlikely, but it's not unexpected.

[@roseduste80]

@@Operngeist1 Yeah, I wouldn't call it a freak accident either. They had so many chances to notice. Multiple people didn't follow procedure or ignored warning signs.

[@SailingWindGypsy]

To call it a freak accident, minimizes what was a preventable tragedy.

[@bryanst.martin7134]

@@Operngeist1 Video wasn't needed if the sonarman had ears. He would have heard that noisy boat a long way off. And close in, the icemaker would have given it away.

[@tadams27]

Like kittens being drowned in a bathtub? Never heard that description before.

[@merryfergie]

Yeah, that was the hollywood/theatrical drama line that should have been omitted

[@robertheinkel6225]

Frequently used in farming situations. When you have too many cats on the farm, you eliminate new arrivals.

[@danwrigley7955]

How on earth did they half ass so many procedures in a single attempt to show off? A truck driver makes one mistake and goes to jail

[@realityaskew]

After spending over 20 years in the military, I can say unequivocally that the officer corps defends their own. I'm not surprised the captain wasn't court martialed. I'm shocked they didn't pick out the lowest ranking member of the crew to put the blame on.

[@johnsamu]

When I listen carefully the lower ranks got a relatively harsher treatment? They didn't get away with honorable discharge and early retirement.

[@terrenceolivido741]

amen.

[@Naltddesha]

This is definitely one of my favorite channels. The amount of detail, usually including a visual aid, is so satisfying to my mechanically wired mind. Not trying to say I’m smart or anything, but I really enjoy the specifics of these machines, (and the detail of your cave exploring/diving videos) and the EXACT why&hows of how things went wrong. Thank you for your hard work Waterline Stories- you deserve whatever success you acquire on this platform

[@waterlinestories]

👌🏻 thanks. That's very kind of you to say

[@CasualQuasar]

Thank you for your continued work on this channel. It's a lovely start to my saturday!

[@waterlinestories]

👍🏻

[@gordonpeden6234]

"Packed together, like kittens about to be drowned in the bath tub." I feel that you have a dark/troubled past. Great breakdown, as always.

[@johnnunn8688]

I’m a little confused as to why the Greenville’s rudder cut through the other ship, with no mention of the sub’s sail. Was the sub’s angle so steep that the sail missed the other ship?

[@kenkahre9262]

Timing. The sail missed, but the tail did not. It was like two cars that sideswipe one another. The front part missed, but the rear got 'em.

[@theprinceofallsaiyans5830]

Yeah it doesn’t make sense. Its coming up on an emergency surface maneuver which means its angle is extremely steep with the bow surfacing way ahead of the stern. The sub would of been halfway out of the water by the time the rudder made contact with the ship. The way its being described is that the bow hit and lifted the ship up.

[@TroyBierkortte]

yes. on an emergency blow the angle is pretty steep. The first impact was with the top of the hull just above the engine room. If they had waited one more second to blow the tanks, they would have missed completely.

[@zen4men]

@@TroyBierkortte ............ Karma!

[@bearcatracing007]

​@@zen4menfor?

[@gbonkers666]

That sub captain should've been court-martialed.

[@gingerbreadman6657]

What about the admiral or admirals, that ordered him to provide the joy ride, for those civilians? Shouldn't they also be punished ?

[@toddnotmine6260]

@@gingerbreadman6657 someone can place a firearm in another's hands with no intent or directions that it be used to harm anyone, the recipient is in charge of its direction of discharge (even without intent to harm, but reckless behavior, courts ask "what would a reasonable man do [ not forsake protocol or create hazardous environments one can avoid " ). The act is what determines the fact of the matter. Accountability is what this entire world avoids, that is the purpose of corporations, right. shielding individuals from responsibility for their harms. I am glad comments show he took responsibility. Forgiveness is what hopefully the families gave him. Nothing escapes the eye of the Lord, though. It is good he is out from "the war game". It all a feigned stage of undue influence that men will follow orders to kill their fellow man. War is business.

[@joshuabrooks4941]

I have a vague memory of a sub out of Bangor broke up a sailboat in the straight of Juan de Fuca.

[@common_VN_man]

the captain should face charges..too arrogant and a show off ,,ignoring all safety procedures..very shameful

[@lancerevell5979]

Navy ships and subs have WARDROOMS, not "war rooms". 🙄

[@thatguyinelnorte]

He also used waterline instead of surface several times.

[@Velereonics]

Ah yes, a quick glance confirming nothing and assumptions about everyone being on point with a bunch of civilians on board is TOTALLY adequate when one is the captain of a nuclear attack sub.

[@alexanderhamilton4258]

Well, it gave adequate training to everyone else after him. Terrible shame that the US Navy had to learn like this. Even worse that most lessons in the military are learned like this...

[@nopamineLevel100]

The writing and narration for these videos is top quality. I love the way you explain these disasters.

[@kennedymcleod1479]

As a nuclear sub sailor, this was a well done video explaining the deadly event.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks I appreciate that

[@vast634]

Im still amazed that really close contacts like a big ship right in front dont immediately show up on sonar. Missing something miles away is one thing, but right in front?

[@bullbutter9699]

Little slow for my flavor....... melo drama kinda cringe......

[@keystonekid92]

I've been searching for stories of this ship the Ehime Maru for years now. I remember divers finding a student's digital camera with photos of him and his friends to be given to their families.

[@waterlinestories]

Oh geez

[@swapshots4427]

All that technology right in their faces and the manpower to monitor redundantly.....and yet........ imagine them under a fleet or an armada.

[@Chewbakaya]

Someone has to get fired

[@raven-dq6ox]

It is a lot easier to miss one small ship than it is to miss a fleet...

[@swapshots4427]

@@raven-dq6ox you miss my point

[@snuffle2269]

@@raven-dq6ox It only takes a small ship to sink you. It only takes a bunch of Houtis to parallelize the western Red Sea fleet.

[@cyrkielnetwork]

Har to focus when your main concern is to entertain oil billionaires

[@djmorry8748]

Best commentary iv'e listened to and the background audio used to best effect .Even less background audio would have worked! Very well done !

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks for the feedback. 👍🏻😀

[@UltraBoogie]

On submarines we have a repeat back system in place. Ex: Officer of the Deck to diving officer " Dive make your depth 250'. Steer a course of 287 deg". The dive will then repeat back "Make my depth 250'. Steer course 287 deg. Ey sir". Had the dive given a wrong reapeat back. The OOD would/should have restated the order. This way both have a full understanding of the orders and misunderstandings/miscommuncations can be resolved immediately. I wonder if there was any repeat back between the sonar supervisor and the sonar tech that was asked to check fire contorl's solution on contact S13? If there was. Then why wasn't the sonar tech corrected on repeat back? Was the miscommunication between the ST & FT? This missing detail seems (to me) to be when the cards started to fall. Then the OOD and CO dropped the ball when the CO took the helm. Both had a dismal lack of situational awareness. We had dependents cruses on my boat. They can be a lot of fun. But, they are a bit of a distraction. Control shouldn't have been that crowded and the CO should have asked everyone to remain silent while coming to PD. So many opportunities to save the situaion and they blew each one.

[@Depressed_Nightfury]

Seems to me that the FTOW and Sonar sup weren't communicating well, and fire control wasn't using or paying attention to the data sonar had sent them. I've been told many times as a new FT to not focus on the contact picture as much as use the raw sonar data because raw data doesn't lie. Sounds to me like there was a good bit of communication breakdown as well as a lack of watchteam backup. Possibly with a side of fire control teams not voicing their concerns to the OOD strongly enough. Similarto the Montpellier. I wonder if S13 was potentially in a bow or stern null making her harder to see. Those violent maneuvers probably didn't help with getting good solution data on much of anything either.

[@kastaways1259]

You are an excellent story teller , good job . A very interesting channel, subscribed !

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks I really appreciate that. Welcome aboard

[@deezynar]

One of the most important, and interesting aspects of this collision is understanding the exact angle, direction, and relative position, the sub was in, in relation to the surface vessel. And you left that as vague as an eight ball in a vat of black ink.

[@giggiddy]

Go ahead and clear it up there pal... I mean, obviously you're an expert.

[@MikeHunt-fo3ow]

maybe to you ...i thought he did a good job with the story......if you want more detail i found this for you www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MAB0501.pdf

[@RWBHere]

I doubt that he could even find out that information; it's likely to be classified.

[@mrstephenthomas100]

You really do these stories very well.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks 👌🏻

[@j0hnnykn0xv1lle]

As a US NAVY Veteran I am so saddened by this tragedy which was was so avoidable. Japanese people are some of the best people you will ever meet. My heart goes out to the victims families and this should have never happened. Unfortunately all too often, and I saw it with my own eyes, these officers get away with literal murder in this case. The US government never holds these officers accountable. I used to say, while serving, "Honor, Courage, Committment, E-5 and below." Meaning that credo only applies to the junior enlisted. Great video and I'm sorry for the losses of these fine people.

[@damianluther7191]

the Japanese aren't perfect.

[@747driver3]

Anytime the Captain of anything says “watch this” it’s time to buckle in and pray.

[@friedrichhoffmann4248]

So the taxpayer got punished for this? How about jail time for those guilty?

[@XRAYSEVENONE]

Yeah! You got a point!… I am a Navy Vet. We are always held accountable unless you’re a high ranking military officer, politician, or blue blood. They will always find a whipping boy, thats why the other officers went on admin leave while the submarines CO got to have an honorable discharge. Thats the inequality of the world.

[@michaelimbesi2314]

Thank you for making this. I had never really seen much detail on this accident until now. I’d never learned the sequence of events or the causes of the accident laid out, or even how a Japanese fishing school vessel had even came to be in Hawaii.

[@waterlinestories]

👍🏻

[@neveroddoreven6597]

Slightly pedantic: Japanese is a syllabic language, so when you read Romaji, pronounce all of the vowels regardless of English spelling conventions. Case in point: EHIME MARU is pronounced E•HE•MAY MA•RU (pronouncing r’s in Japanese is a whole different can of worms, but most Japanese people don’t mind if foreigners pronounce r the English way).

[@rh906]

Kind of don't have a choice since barbarians aren't capable of making the proper hybrid r/l sound.

[@alexanderhamilton4258]

@@rh906 An elegant letter, for a more civilized age.

[@sd5458]

Respect for Commander Waddle for doing the face to face with the families' victims. It takes a man of true fortitude to stand up to that task and admit to mistake.

[@geronimo5537]

The fact the ship company got the most compensation for an aging ship compared to the families is just something special. Definitely shows though submarines are still quite blind.

[@billhiggins-ha4all795]

I served on USS Boston for three years and knew CDR Waddle very well while we were at the Naval Academy. My condolences for the lives lost.

[@vanceb1]

A similar incident occurred off of Los Angeles in 1989. The USS HOUSTON snagged a tow cable attached to the tug BARCONA, pulling it under and killing one of its sailors. The tug sank in 2,400 feet of water 10 miles southwest of Long Beach.

[@inipin510]

Shout out to that poor seasick person, has to endure all these frenzy maneuvers 🤣🤣🤣

[@blackhawkorg]

Good presentation. Civilians have no place or is there room for them on an attack sub during operations. Far too many. Sad way to end an otherwise excellent career. On a bs tourist mission at that.

[@anja2716]

Gosh! Such a foreign world to me, I'm going to have to watch this once or even twice more.....and then again. Never boring.

[@waterlinestories]

👍🏻🤣

[@michaelbisnett4845]

First, the ping thing isn't normally used. The video does clear up many of the questions I had because it went into the how much maneuvering was happening and why that introduced so much potential confusion to the FTOW/STOW. Not having the auto plotter in operation as well as having the manual plot obscured by the riders played into the confusion. The surface search done by the ODD should have picked up the close contact, but the incomplete surface search done by the CO was the nail in the coffin. Things were rushed and SOP were disregarded. The FTOW should have been much more forward with the ODD and CO when they announced no close contact. The Sonar supervisor was also not on the ball and should have been more proactive. My boat did an emergency blow from test depth (TD) after leaving the shipyard and that was done in a completely controlled environment in a secluded bay, it was a fun ride to the surface. Flying over the Pacific when arriving into Honolulu once I looked down at the area where the collision took place and tried to imagine how 2 vessels could have possibly collided, given the vastness of the ocean and the relatively small size of the vessels. Even if someone tried to deliberately collide them by controlling their paths, it probably couldn't be done. A sub conducting an emergency blow has no control of where it will surface and at what speed. Sad.

[@sucha603boy]

I really enjoy your channel and have been watching all of your videos, thank you for your time. Btw as someone that was a fire control technician on a sub in Hawaii I can say this was a great explanation of the tragedy.

[@deecawford]

I felt like I was on the sub. I felt like I was part of the crew. Amazing story telling my friend. Respectfully done

[@bojanperko]

Excellent, as always. Love your narration style and timbre.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks 👌🏻

[@snlop3927]

Beautiful sunny day, fresh coffee, pipe full of old navy, and a new Waterline Story...what a glorious day.

[@glenquagmire4340]

My pipe has dabs in it

[@Me-zo8yc]

Sounds mint. 👍🏻

[@SubVet84]

Former Sonar Supervisor here…anyone have any questions?? I’m utterly amazed at how the whole sonar and control room handled this situation. Going to periscope depth is a dangerous task and everyone defaults to safety when something is unknown. In sonar, the supervisor would have asked for a better course change. The sonar supervisor and officer of the deck must have the exact same picture of what’s going on topside. I’ve called off ascents before because of shrimp being too loud and potentially masking something else. You will never get punished for defaulting to safety! So many mistakes were made here, but it’s because of this incident that the procedures changed across the fleet. Instead of thinking “we need to get to PD” we now think “is it completely safe to go to PD”

[@phatphracker]

This is an important subject and I'm glad to see the story told. My heart-felt condolences to the families and my prayers for the survivors as I'm sure this day still haunts them. However, preparation for this video is lackluster. You can't just read the Wiki and Incident Report. It's clear many of the things you've read are not understood by the writer. Almost all of the SONAR and target motion analysis discussed is just wrong. There's no mention of the failure by the CO to assess the sea state and realize his visual range was limited, nor that he should have taken a high look Also, the CO was general deemed to be an aloof asshole by the crew. He commonly ignored input and was cited in his reprimand for failure to foster a culture of forceful backup, a hallmark principle in the US Submarine Force. Simple truth is, the CO's ego fostered a dangerous climate aboard and furthered by him showing off that day, resulted in the deaths of innocent mariners. In my opinion, he should have gone to a courts martial and suffered a penalty other than retirement. On the other side of the story, there's no mention of the international nautical chart showing that area to be a submarine operating area. The marking was on the version of chart being used by the fishing vessel. Additionally, there was a notice to mariners for that area all afternoon. Greeneville was mostly on a North/South course to stay in the middle of that rectangle as their position uncertainty grew while submerged. The CO of the submarine was negligent and at fault but the shipmaster should never have been operating in the area he was, especially with young students aboard.

[@giroromek8423]

Bullshit.

[@markspence20xx]

It is truly unfortunate that this video fails to meet with your full approval. Perhaps you might make your own video or point to some research you've done, so others might have a template to follow and do better by in he future?

[@robinbailey7460]

You said what I would, but more succinctly. One issue i have - that may be incorrect - the narrator uses degrees in common English. I seem to recall that navigators use three digits and speak each digit. So 18 (eighteen) becomes 'zero one eight' 018. in an urgent, noisy environment 'eighteen' could be misheard as eighty (eightee) the 'n' fading. there are other numbers like it.

[@gerard5890]

Like Kittens about to be drowned in a bathtub , what a way with words you have ! You need 1 million subscribers

[@waterlinestories]

🤣 thanks

[@tonymiller225]

Reads like a script from airplane: Capn Waddel: "Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue"

[@ricksmith4736]

As you live in public housing?

[@tonymiller225]

@@ricksmith4736 Worse - i live in a car

[@CharlesSeipel]

​@@tonymiller225it happens, man. Keep your head up and work hard. You'll be ok

[@glenlongstreet7]

I am a submarine qualified veteran. I was stationed on SSBN 656B from 76 to 79. Submarine crews change frequently, and it is important to train new sailors with the maneuvers described in this video. A Nuclear Submarine is a weapon and is dangerous. That is why we got paid hazardous duty pay. It is not the love boat. It is not a cruise ship. It is not an amusement park. Yes, I remember when this happened. I also know how difficult it is for any Submarine Officer to qualify as a Captain. There must be no mistakes, none in his career. But running an amusement ride is not the captain's forte. He should never have been put in this situation. For those of you who feel he should have gotten a Courts Martial, sorry, you don't know what you are talking about. I would trust my life with any Submarine Qualified Captain.

[@SevenSixTwo2012]

Tens of thousands square miles of empty ocean all around and they still managed to ram a small ship when breaching. What are the odds.

[@mauricedevine7350]

I am tempted to ask you to elaborate on your vast knowledge of submarine operations, and wait to be astounded by the searing logic of your fiery intellect...

[@rovidius2006]

The oceans are vast but shipping routes are very busy ,in the middle of a ocean someone can expect a ship to pass by in 30 min, at any time of the day. For solo navigators or small boas ships are the biggest hazard there is , a small dot on horizon can run you over in 20 minutes .

[@SevenSixTwo2012]

@@rovidius2006 That's true. Hence why a professional sub commander should not breach his sub in a known shipping lane location.

[@Greenwashing101]

What a great way to listen and learn, well done. -new subscriber 🙏🏾

[@waterlinestories]

👌🏻 thanks that’s great to hear

[@mankihonda983]

US military budget at that time was 330 billion dollars, that means they gave the victims and their families in compensation less than what they used in 30 minutes.

[@Albert-wk8ts]

I've been binging this channel for a few days. The production quality is like Discovery Channel back when it was actually good, except for the narrator not having the annoyingly deep/ overdramatic voice. Great job!

[@waterlinestories]

🤣 thanks

[@colonel-h2b]

I was in the Army, stationed at Schofield Barracks when this happened. I knew a guy on that sub. So sad

[@sganzerlag]

I really enjoyed this, many thanks for making this video and sharing it here. What an incredible story and what a truly bizarre accident! You got a few terms wrong here and there, but they did not hinder my understanding of the narrative. Thanks again for covering this accident! Am very much looking forward to your next video.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks, I appreciate that

[@goofyiest]

The CO did not bother to get a solid search at PD prior to the emergency surfacing evolution. So it wasn't the emergency deep. The maneuver for the emergency surfacing is common, done a few times per year by each sub, and the procedure is specific. You leave PD, go to 400ft and 15 knots and then emergency surface. There is no way you could not have seen the fishing boat if you had bothered to look. Criminal negligence.