Navy Loses Signal, Thought Sub Had Sunk

Military Temporarily Loses Communication With USS San Juan Off Florida Coast; Navy Investigating Incident

(CBS/AP)  The Navy temporarily lost communication with a submarine off Florida's coast and sent ships and aircraft to search for the USS San Juan before the vessel was contacted early Wednesday, military officials said.

There were no problems with the Los Angeles-class sub, based in Groton, Conn., and the Navy is investigating the incident, the Naval Submarine Force said in a statement.

A carrier battle group was operating with three submarines 100 miles off the coast of Florida when a lookout reported spotting a red flare — the traditional signal for a sub in distress, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. The battle group immediately tried to establish communications with all three subs. Two answered, but the USS San Juan, which was playing the role of an enemy submarine as part of the exercise, remained silent.

At 3:30 Wednesday morning, Martin reports that the submarine center in Norfolk, Va., sent out the rarest and most critical of messages: "Sub Sunk." It has been nearly 40 years since the Navy lost a sub — the USS Scorpion, which went down with all hands in 1968.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates was awakened in the early morning hours and told of the events, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

"The secretary of defense was notified at the time when the Navy felt that they had a sub in distress," he said.

The Navy immediately started searching and also contacted the International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office in Norfolk to assist with the efforts. Family members of those on board also were notified.

"Fortunately, the submarine established communications in the early morning hours ... and indicated that there were no problems; hence, units were able to stand down from the search and rescue that was already well under way," the Navy said in a release.

There were about 140 sailors on board, said Lt. Mark Jones, a Navy spokesman in Groton.

[lynne19561]

I am the mother of a 2nd class petty officer aboard the USS SAN JUAN. I did not get direct news about the situation but my daughter in law in Connecticut called be after the Sub had reported in. The possibility that my SON could have been lost is unthinkable to me! I am so proud of my son's service to this Country. My admiration and support to the Armed services is great.

[jaydeblack]

I am not as upset about not being contacted as I am that it was reported that families were contacted but I wasn't. Maybe that sounds dumb but if something unthinkable does happen, I want to make sure that I get contacted. I know that it is probably the responsibility of my son to make sure that the contact information is there, but I can't talk to him right now. I have nothing but admiration and praise for the rescue efforts and know that it is the media reports that have made me frustrated. It has just brought it home that something horrible really could happen and I can't stay in my peaceful oblivion that (as my son told me) submarines are the safest places to be in the military. What I don't understand is why people are being so rude when they make comments. Especially people who know more about the military than some of us. I thank eddiessdv for being polite and respectful. I guess I am commenting in this forum in hopes that there will be others who understand what it is like to have a child in the military and not know who or how to contact anyone with questions and to wonder if your name is listed on a contact card but they just hadn't gotten everyone called yet when they got the good news or if you were somehow overlooked or what. Are there resources for parents? Is there someone designated at each base or for each branch or something that can serve as a contact person? I just don't know these things.

[eddiessdv]

I read the majority of the comments posted and I dont think a single one of you had anything good to say about my fellow shipmates on the San Juan.Im a submariner myself,did time on 2 boats out of Hawaii and currently stationed with the Deep Submergence Rescue Unit out of San Diego.In case you havent heard of us,google DSRV1 and find out what it is we do and you will probably feel a little more secure and realize that rescue efforts were well underway before you heard of it on the news.If this would have been a real incident,thank God it wasnt,those guys would have been rescued either way no doubt in my mind.I understand everyone onboard has wifes,kids.... so forth but theres no reason why we should be upset for not being contaced first.Understand this,We have the world greatest rescue asset standing by ready to deploy worldwide.Thats probably why it took a while to contact families,word was being put out to us to get ready for us to fly out.

[jaydeblack]

First of all, it was the Navy Newstand press release that stated that family members were contacted. Second,we aren't complaining or blaming anyone for anything but are just worried parents and spouses wondering why we weren't called. Third, we don't have 19 years experience dealing witht he military and don't know the procedures and finally, as an ombudsman you could have provided information about sailors not filling out their contact cards without calling names and sounding like those of us who are wondering are trying to interfere with operations. We don't know who we are supposed to contact on base and I personally haven't because I am somewhat intimidated and don't want to be a pest. I do, however, want to figure out if the families were contacted or if that was a false report. If families were contacted and I wasn't because my son didn't do something I will talk to him. But obviously when the sailors are underway, I don't have that opportunity. I don't know who to ask questions to in the meantime. I don't think it is appropriate for you to be calling anyone a moron. And yes I am so glad that things turned out ok but it did cause me to wonder how I would hear news of another kind if it had turned out differnetly. I certainly wouldn't want to hear it on the news first. I would want someone to call.

[hunts57-2009]

spud777777 you are such a stupid Left wing moron!
For all of you too understand the Submarine Force is called the silent service.I completly understand how everyone's families onboard feel about this situation.This is not the Navy's fault.The press again had it's nose into governmnet business where until all the facts come out then report the findings!! I am a Navy Submarine wife and have been for 19 years, and also an Ombudsman.First, the contact sheets your sailors fill out (next of kin, contact & emergency contact) would have that contact information on those. I have seen so many sheets incompleted by the sailors before deployment.If your a parent and are complaining it could possible be that you were not on that contact sheet or very incomplete(such as no number, no address) or not updated spouses numbers which I have seen many times.In addtion, before we all play the blame game, the Sentate and House votes on military spending and recently if you readd the "news" the sentate voted NO to an increase of military spending!!!!! So let's get an education first on ther Submarine community and also the Us Government Politics!! In Closing , I do and would feel very distressed while "waiting to hear from the Navy about our Submarine if this was my situation.There are contact #'s to the base and others to verify such incidences.Praise God that this Sub was located and unharmed.Let's let the navy do it's investigation until we start popping off!!

[jaydeblack]

I feel the same way. I won't feel comfortable until I hear from my son but know that I won't for awhile. I think they will be out on manuevers for another week. I do feel a little better knowing that I was not the only family member who wasn't notified. I wonder if they just notified the spouses back at base. I wish they would come out with a statement and retract that family was notified because obviously that wasn't true. They aren't saying anything today. I emailed a Navy public relations person and thought I might get a response back but haven't. I thought about contacting the base but don't really know who to contact.

[redwezell]

I tried commenting earlier and my computer gliched on me. I also have a son on the USS San Juan and I also was not notified. Fact is I did not know anything had happened until about an hour ago when my sister-in-law called and told my husband. I will not be comfortable until I hear from my son and know that he is safe. God be with all of the families and our Sailors.

[jaydeblack]

I am the mother of a sailor who is aboard the USS San Juan and was NOT contacted at any time during the time that the sub was thought to have sunk! I have read report after report that families were contacted. I don't think that was accurate. I wonder how many other families learned about this on the news!!

[moonstar84]

Don't worry. they are pro's with the best training in the world. All is well. But you know this.
Posted by NavyChief8


Thank you so much, that really, truly does make me feel better. Thank you for being so kind:)

[godofredo29]

I blame myself.

[navychief8]

My best friend and my friend's husband are both on this boat and they are new parents to a new baby boy so I thank GOD that they are ok and pray that we will see them soon and we hope they are safe
Posted by moonstar84

Don't worry. they are pro's with the best training in the world. All is well. But you know this.

[cdr_ret]

First, the comments regarding military dependents are completely uncalled for and well off topic. Many spouses, especially of junior enlisted personnel (but even officers and chiefs), just don't get the word about what they can and cannot do.

As for the incident, all we have to go on is the report from one person employed by CBS. I have not been able to find this story via any other news service. I wonder where he got his information?

I suspect that when all the dust has settled, investigators will find that San Juan or another vessel fired a red flare instead of a green one (which signals a successful simulated attack). Since the San Juan was the simulated enemy, her duty was to remain undetected. Guess what? She did her job. And contrary to what some may believe, subs just do not routinely come to the surface and tell everyone they are OK, even in exercises. That compromises what subs are all about. It looks to me like a tempest in a teacup. I'm wondering if perhaps SUBLANT felt compelled to issue a SUBSUNK alert because the news media had already got involved in something they should have let go until an official release was issued. We are not the Russians. We don't try to hide such incidents. Just recall the San Francisco and Greeneville collisions a few years ago.

[navychief8]

Posted by spud777777

You are an idiot wiht no actual knowledge.

I am a Navy Sonar Technician. Submaring maintenance (sub safe progaram) is the best in the world and the US military for that matter. What happened is extremely rare. In this instance the sub was acting as "opfor" for a battle group exercise. For wahtever reason they were not able to communicate with the sub. That does not mean the sub couldn't communicate. But there are procedures in place that require the sub to communicate at predetermined times. I think that is what happened here. A red flare was sighted so they assume sub in distress. So the surface ships and other subs attempt to contact them. Whn unable to do so. They take the precaution of assuming something has gone wrong and search for the sub. I won't go into detail as these are classified procedures. But in the end all is well. The sub made contact as is procedure.

[navychief8]

how can the sub sink, or be sunk when it is already under water?
Posted by corpse4

Is this a real question? If no, not funny! This is no laughing matter.

[moonstar84]

My best friend and my friend's husband are both on this boat and they are new parents to a new baby boy so I thank GOD that they are ok and pray that we will see them soon and we hope they are safe

[mitywhity]

GO NAVY! GO ARMY! GO MARINES! GO AIR FORCE! GO COAST GUARD! GO NATL GUARD! GO RESERVES! GO AMERICA! Thank God I am an American! Thank you, thank you God!

[corpse4]

how can the sub sink, or be sunk when it is already under water?

[spud777777]

Interesting, what if the Navy needed to tell the sub not to attack other forces thinking that there was an attack on the US. People, wake up, the military is underfunded due to the war in Iraq and their systems are failing due to proper maintainance. (two F-16 recently crashed).

Stop the madness and impeach Bush and Cheney.

[gunnerv1]

Tara992: To use a phrase you might understand... Your going just a little bit overboard! It's not the Navy's fault that your friend had her sound muted. The Navy was not and will not send out any Msg. without confirmation. (Thats how wars get started) SCPO (SW) USN (Ret.)

[randalds]

I think you're being a little hard on Trara992. The Navy should never have begun notifying next of kin and it sure as HE*LL shouldn't have released any hint of what was going on to the press until they had a confirmed sinking. Face it the Navy's public and family relations (I don't know the name of the office since I was in the Air Force) people fu*cked up on this one big time.