US Navy Submarine Collides On A Cruiser; No Casualties Reported
A U.S. Navy submarine collided with an Aegis cruiser during routine exercise off the East Coast on Saturday causing damage but no injuries, U.S. Navy officials stated.
The nuclear powered-submarine USS Montpelier collided with the cruiser USS San Jacinto about 3.30 p.m. at an undisclosed location, Navy authorities said in a statement.
“The collision damaged the sonar dome of the cruiser- a bulbous-shaped device on the bow of the ship beneath the water line,” a Navy official told Reuters requesting anonymity.
A Navy official quoted by Reuters said that the watch team aboard the San Jacinto “saw a periscope rise from the water about 100 to 200 yards (meters) ahead of the vessel during the exercise. The cruiser ordered "all back," but the San Jacinto still collided with the submarine.”
The authorities said that the extent of damage to both the ships is being assessed; however, there was no damage to the submarine's nuclear-powered propulsion plant. Both the ships are based at Norfolk, Va. and are operating on their own power, the news statement said.
There were no injuries reported and authorities are investigating how the collision occurred.
The ships were part of a strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and were engaged in routine operations.
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