Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

US nuclear submarine runs aground near Guam

Note:
In January, Guam is to receive a third U.S. nuclear attack submarine, the Houston. In three years, the United States will have brought from zero to three its forward deployed submarines in Guam, the U.S. territory 240 kilometers, or 150 miles, south of here. Since March, the United States, using satellites and maritime surveillance planes, has detected Chinese submarines in waters west of Guam.

The Chinese Han Class submarine that passed near here cruised first near Guam. From the Marianas, the Chinese submarine went north to Okinawa, where Japanese forces detected it Nov. 9 as it shadowed a joint naval exercise between the United States and Japan.
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In the Pacific Theatre on the campaign against terrorism Australia and the US agreed that South East Asia was a key front.
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The Navy is conducting an internal study in which between nine and 11 attack submarines potentially would be stationed off Guam, including the three already based there. But a final decision is not expected for more than a year, Walsh said.
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-Am

US nuclear submarine runs aground near Guam

LOS ANGELES (AFP) Jan 08, 2005
A US nuclear attack submarine ran aground south of Guam Saturday, injuring several people aboard but not damaging its reactor plant, the US Navy said.

The Los Angeles class USS San Francisco ran aground while conducting submerged operations 563 kilometers (350 miles) south of the Pacific island of Guam, where it is based, a Navy statement said.

The incident occurred at 0200 GMT Saturday (12 noon in Guam), the statement said.

"The extent of the injuries and damage aboard San Francisco is still being assessed, but includes one critical injury and several other lesser injuries. The submarine is on the surface and is making best speed back to their homeport in Guam," the statement said.

"There were no reports of damage to the reactor plant, which is operating normally."

Military and Coast Guard aircraft were en route to monitor and assist in the situation, the Navy said.

Los Angeles class submarines are 109.73 meters (360 feet) long and have one nuclear reactor and one shaft, according to US Navy data.


http://www.spacewar.com/2005/050108103747.blunpbuo.html