2 U.S. Sailors Die After Falling From Sub

(AP)  Surging waters swept four U.S. sailors from the deck of a nuclear submarine off the coast of southwestern England on Friday, killing two of them, authorities said.

The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul was leaving Plymouth harbor accompanied by police boats in rough weather, police said. The four sailors were tied to the vessel with ropes — a routine precaution — but were knocked into the water by surging waves.

The police boats — small inflatable dinghies with outboard motors — picked up all four, said Baxter Provan, a spokesman for the Devon and Cornwall police.

Lt. Chris Servello, a spokesman for the U.S. Sixth Fleet in Naples, Italy, said the four men were taken to hospital in Plymouth, where two were pronounced dead. The two survivors were treated for minor injuries and discharged, he said. No one else was injured and all the other sailors have been accounted for.

Authorities received a request for help just before 1 p.m., near the large concrete breakwater barrier that rings Plymouth harbor. The British Coast Guard dispatched a search and rescue helicopter and a lifeboat to the scene, but police had already plucked the men from the water.

Sean Brooks, a Coast Guard officer, said rescuers initially only saw two sailors tied to the vessel's hull with ropes.

"Because of the violent weather, they were frequently plunged below the waves," he said. "It then transpired that there were already two other guys in the water."

The two men were given CPR as they were carried ashore, but it was not enough to save them. Their names have been withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.

The Devon and Cornwall police are investigating the deaths together with the military.

Provan said the two survivors would probably not have been rescued as quickly had it not been for the police escort, which was assigned to the submarine because the higher security accorded to American vessels.

"You could say it was lucky they were there," he said.

Servello said the submarine had just completed a weeklong layover in Plymouth and was heading out to sea for routine duties.

The nuclear-powered attack submarine, which is based in Norfolk, Va., has a crew of 110 and can reach speeds exceeding 30 miles an hour. Its weapons include torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The Sixth Fleet is the operational arm of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and is primarily responsible for the Mediterranean and western and central Africa.

[me109g4]

i couldnt have said it better, THANK YOU for serving.JT

[blkstv]

First off, if you have never served you need to shut up, because you have no idea what your talking about. Second I knew one of the men that passed away, he was a very dear friend and mentor. I had the pleasure of serving 4 and a half years of my Naval career with him. He was one of the best men I have ever known. The reasons why they were on the deck during this, it is mandatory when entering or leaving port to have personnel topside for security, small boat transfers, and a host of other reasons. Those of you who talk about conspiracy and suspicion have no clue what you are talking about. I personally have been topside during some pretty hairy situations, not because my CO didn't like me, but because it was my job. So if you don't have anything constructive to say don't say anything, and if you can't respect the dead and give them the common courtesy they as well as the rest of the military deserve for fighting for you and dying for you, then shut up and get out of my country, because I sure don't want to put my life on the line for those that can and won't appreciate the sacrafices made on our parts, such as these two men. God Bless you both and God be with your families.

[agoodfreind]

Not to mention any names as to upset the family he was a very good friend who died doing what he loved. He loved serving his country he loved being on that boat and he loved his family. I can not imagine you people with your theories about how this and why this happened. He was a good man with good morels he wouldn%u2019t talk all the *** that most of you sit here and think up! COULD YOU SHOW SOME RESPECT? We can sit here for days typing away on what we think happened and we can do this for the simple fact that guys like these our out there fitting for us do so.

[me109g4]

Give these sailors the respect they deserve, they died in the service of this country, defending the freedoms we all take for granted.As to the criticism by some that posted here, i doubt if any of them have ever set foot on a sub, let alone served in one, and thier ignorance shows.Its a shame that some of our finest go in harms way for the likes of idiots like these.

[bobacorn]

p.p.s.

I spent 45 years, 3 months, 9 days, and 14 hours in the Navy in a jungle in eastern sub-northern Asia. It sucked. Wouldn't recommend it.

[kazemi1-2009]

It is a quality of the mind that when one out of ignorance is unable to understand a phenomena (such as sailors getting swept overboard), one would explain that in mystical terms or in conspiratorial terms. In the middle ages, infectious disease was obviously some evil super natural spirit that invaded bodies.

Today, we have leftists and far-rightist analysing each and every world event as a conspiracy concocted in hidden boardrooms. This is an attack on democracy and open society. It insults our intelligence.

[navychief194]

I spent 20 years in the Navy and two tours on submarines, it is not uncommon to have sailors on deck when entering or leaving port. Visual navigation is very important as well as the ability to make sure no one is attempting to make an unauthorized apporach to your ship. It is a tragedy that these young men died, but we all knew the risks when we enlisted. My heart goes out to their families for the lose of their fathers, husbands and sons.

There was absolutely nothing suspious about have these sailors on deck, it is the most common practice in aalmost every Navy in the world. Any one looking for some kind of conspracy or plot therory really needs to get real and get a life.

[dmpohl]

Not uncommon to have personnel on deck when moving out of port. There are a number of things that may be needed to do during the transit. I was topside during the transit in and out of ports a number of times.

Godseyesore wrote:

"Why would ships captain send men onto deck during such heavy weather? Sound suspicious."

You've partially answered your own question - heavy weather.

Or to be more precise, for visual navigation.

Another reason is that they had police boats around them so they have to be careful not to collide with them.

In such close proximity, visual navigation is a safer option than relying on radar or other means of navigation.

[canaima]

Creeper, both you & Godseyesore love making mountains out of molehills. Everything's "suspicious", everything reeks of "conspiracy", the government does nothing but lie, etc. It's downright childish, and both of you need to get a life & grow up.

The classic term for both of you is that you're both "chumps".