--- title: "Navy Releases Report On Submarine USS Connecticut’s Underwater Crash" date: "2022-05-23" modified: "2022-05-23" authors: - name: "Joseph Trevithick" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/navy-releases-report-on-submarine-uss-connecticuts-underwater-crash" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "Indo-Pacific" - "Navies" - "News & Features" - "Nuclear Attack Submarines (SSNs)" - "Sea" - "Seawolf Class" - "South China Sea" - "Submarines" - "U.S. Navy" --- # Navy Releases Report On Submarine USS Connecticut’s Underwater Crash ![A screengrab from a video of the damaged USS Connecticut arriving in San Diego in December 2021 following the underwater collision two months earlier.]() *@SanDiegoWebCam via @WarshipCam* The U.S. Navy [has released]() a heavily-redacted copy of the final report of its investigation into the *Seawolf* class submarine USS *Connecticut*'s [collision with an underwater seamount]() in the South China Sea last October. The review reiterated the Navy's position that the accident was preventable and, despite the redactions, outlines how it says actions by various personnel contributed to the grounding, which [left the submarine severely damaged](). The Navy has now disclosed that the collision occurred while *Connecticut* was conducting a so-called humanitarian evacuation (HUMEVAC) transit in the direction of the Japanese island of Okinawa. HUMEVACs involve sailing to a location where one or more crewmembers can disembark for various non-emergency reasons. This can include "routine, non-emergent medical care," as well as things like a [family member falling seriously ill]() or the [premature birth of a child](), according [to official instructions]() and historical records. "*Connecticut* grounded on an uncharted bathymetric feature while operating submerged in a poorly surveyed area in international waters. This mishap was preventable," according to the report's executive summary. After the accident, the submarine limped first to Guam, where initial assessments and repairs were conducted, before returning to its homeport in Washington State. https://twitter.com/WarshipCam/status/1471267141559234573?s=20&t=LfgYFCVfHduZ5jtr83F2xA https://twitter.com/WarshipCam/status/1471245843697217543?s=20&t=93J1eObSDAHHfNTqEMRUjw The incident "resulted from an accumulation of errors and omissions in navigation planning, watchteam execution, and risk management that fell far below U.S. Navy standards," the executive summary continues. "Prudent decision-making and adherence to required procedures in any of these three areas could have prevented the grounding." The Navy [already publicly announced]() that it had relieved Connecticut's Commanding Officer (CO), Cmdr. Cameron Aljilani, as well as Executive Officer (XO) Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Cashin and Chief of the Boat Cory Rodgers, over the accident in November 2021. The newly released report also recommends nonjudicial punishments for the submarine's navigator (NAV) and assistant navigator (ANAV), as well as the officer of the deck (OOD) and quartermaster of the watch (QMOW) on duty at the time, the names of whom are all redacted. A full copy of the redacted report is available [here](). You can read *The War Zone*'s full review of the report's unredacted contents [here](). *Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com* ## Author Joseph is *TWZ’s* Deputy Editor, helping to oversee the site’s highly experienced and dedicated team, while also writing informative and impactful defense and national security content. He lives right in the thick of it in the Washington, D.C. area. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Bluesky]()