USS Connecticut Leaves Guam For The First Time Since Collision, May Be Heading Home: Reports

The U.S. Navy's Seawolf-class submarine USS Connecticut has left the U.S. base at Guam, the first time since it hit a seamount in the South China Sea.

The submarine reportedly left the port Thursday under its own power, reported USNI News. This comes over a month after the collision, which caused extensive damage to the vessel.

However, Cmdr. Cindy Fields, a spokesperson with Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, refused to confirm the move. A statement issued by Fields said USS Connecticut "has been undergoing damage assessment, repairs, and testing while in Guam. The submarine remains in a safe and stable condition."

It’s unclear whether the attack submarine was testing repairs and intended to come into port and begin the voyage to its homeport in Bremerton, Washington, for its final round of repairs.

Though the recent satellite images showed the submarine still in the same place it had been for weeks, a report by The Drive said the images were shot before the first social media reports emerged about Connecticut's underway.

Besides the data from the online ship tracking software, China-based think tank SCS Probing Initiative too reported that the boat had left its berth in Apra Harbor. The submarine has been in Guam since it arrived there on Oct. 8, six days after its accident.

Recent satellite images had indicated that the damage the sub suffered during the collision may be below the waterline, such as on the bottom of its hull. This rules out a full head-on collision, or one from above, in which case the sail would have borne the impact, said reports, which also hinted that the impact may have damaged the ballast tanks.

However, the Navy had consistently maintained that Connecticut's nuclear reactor and the rest of its propulsion system were not damaged in the accident.

This comes as the Navy Wednesday called for a navigational stand down following the submarine’s collision. According to U.S. Submarine Forces (SUBFOR) officials, unlike prior surface fleet or aviation stand-downs, the stand-down will not involve a halting of all submarine activities.

Instead, crews will review the procedures required for navigation planning, operations, risk management, and best practices, while absorbing lessons learned from the Connecticut mishap, SUBFOR spokesman Cmdr. Paul Macapagal told Navy Times.

The stand-down was conveyed to the submarine community via a joint message sent by SUBFOR’s commander, Vice Adm. William Houston, and the head of Submarine Force Pacific, Rear Adm. Jeffrey Jablon, the report added.