Underwater Collision Drives Changes to Deployment, Certification Cycles

Operational Risk Management in full swing

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - In a heavily redacted report, the US Navy enumerates a long list of errors and failures that resulted in the October 2021 collision between the USS Connecticut and an underwater mountain as well as a series of recommendations to correct them. While most of the recommendations center around disciplinary action for those involved, a confidential memo signed by COMSUBPAC obtained by the SUBPAR GROUP details more significant changes to the submarine deployment cycle. 

According to the memo, “because of the inherent risks involved in submarine deployments, until future notice all WESTPAC deployments are to be simulated vice performed.” The logic of the memo is unassailable: “The only means by which we can totally prevent groundings, collisions, and the degradation of day-to-day standards deployments create, is to prevent our submarines from performing them.” However, the memo goes on to state that, in order to preserve the “warfighing ethos and spirit” of the submarine force, deploying sailors will still be required to sleep and work entirely on their boat during the 6-month deployment period, getting off the boat only for brief periods during “simulated port calls.” The submarine will also enter EMCON and only communicate during “simulated PD trips” except when “simulated sea state is too rough to support communication and DOC is sitting Dive.” Field Days however, will continue to be performed.

The report notes that one of the benefits of this strategy is decreasing fuel expenditure, saving valuable fuel for future ORSEs. 

Additionally, all pre overseas movement training, certifications and maintenance will now be “discuss vice simulate or perform.”

While officials close to the matter have told The Subpar Group that the new work-up regime will result in better crews, since the program was implemented SUBPAC boats have collectively discussed their way into 2 trawler collisions, 3 pier allisions and 4 groundings.