Submarine Accidents in Irish Waters

[Groundhog]

On March 13 1986 an American Ballistic Missile Submarine the USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636) struck the sea-bed about forty miles south of the Isle of Man, in the deep water channel off Dublin Bay, causing major hull damage. Immediately, a major sea rescue operation was launched, in great secrecy, to save the vessel and its crew of 140 men. To make matters worse the sub was carrying a full cargo of Poisedon nuclear missiles with multiple warheads. After two days the vessel was salvaged and towed to the base at Holy Loch, Scotland. The accident was publicised on April 1st. After further repairs it was escorted back to its home base. Damage to the Nathanael Greenewas so serious that the vessel was de-commissioned six months after the incident in December 1986. It was struck of the US Navy list the following month. This actually assisted the US in complying with the SALT II Treaty and a stay of execution for the USS Alexander Hamilton, the intended sacrificial lamb.

Quite possibly this was the most serious nuclear incident in Irish coastal waters and posed a major environmental risk to the whole Irish sea and the Irish eastern seaboard. To this day no detailed information on the accident or of any nuclear leak or pollution to the Irish Sea has been made public by the US Navy.

The Nathanael Greene must have been an unlucky ship because in 1984 she lost her propellor off the coast of Angleseyand she had to be towed to harbour then also.

http://www.lostsubs.com/SSBN-636.htm

http://members.aol.com/ssbn617ah/history.htm

[Lordinajamjar]

xxxxx

[Rooster]

The accident was publicised on April 1st.

Maybe they were trying to say something by releasing it on that date.

[Steamy Window]

There was an incident in 1984 (?) where a trawler had to beach at mornington co meath after it got in a little incident with a RN submarine.
the wreck is still there.

[Rooster]

the wreck is still there

The submarine or the trawler?

[Steamy Window]

the trawler. think the RN would leave us with a nuclear submarine?

[hptmurphy]

FV Shargela....was towed for some time by an RN Submarine in the Irish sea....during the mid 80s......the FV later sunk but the crew were rescued. This happened in full sight of the rest of the fishing fleet. The Naval service later found the wreck and there was dirrect eveidence that a submarine had been involved.

The RN had no option but to admit involvement as on of their subs had to return home after 'colliding with some thing' Something had deposited a load of fishing gear on its sail.

This has always been a bone of contention that the larger navies of the world use the Irish sea as a short cut fom the north atlantic to the bay of biscay.....who are we to try and stop them ? It was suggested that they would have to transit this area on the surface but this was totally ridiculous. Its a bit like the overflights issue ......but nobody wants to know when they can't see the potential problem.

[Steamy Window]

no wonder the crusties dont be moaning about that- they cant vandalise the things:D :D

[Goldie fish]

A few of them made a raid on Holy Loch last year and daubed graffiti on the sails of a few subs there,which made the RN sit up and do a serious review of security.

[Steamy Window]

thats a pretty serious breach- isnt that where the nuclear subs are based?

[Groundhog]

I thought the date a little odd alright but there are a few sites that mention the accident so it isn't an April fool gag.

I wouldn't have thought that sub commanders would like operating in the Irish sea. There isn't a lot of room to manoeuvre and it is relatively shallow.

[hptmurphy]

it s used as a fast track from Scotland to the bay of Biscay and the southern atlantic. They don't expect to have to avaoid large shipping but they often encounter trawlers engage in fishing. The smaller attack boats are quite manouverable but the larger craft are about as manouverable as an articulated lorry !

[Turkey]

Murf, that's a terrible insult to an articulated lorry.
I remember something about the Holy loch incident , as far as I can remember, the protesters swam in, and one, or more, got into difficulties and were rescued by USN personel.......................................... . Now laugh!
:D

[combatlogo]

"You're nothing but a bunch of baby-killing imperialists bent on world-destruction - who gave you the right to rescue me???":D :D :D

[Victor]

Originally posted by Turkey
Murf, that's a terrible insult to an articulated lorry.
I remember something about the Holy loch incident , as far as I can remember, the protesters swam in, and one, or more, got into difficulties and were rescued by USN personel.......................................... . Now laugh! :D

Actually they just sailed right in in a RIB (or similar), much to the ire of the MoD(?) Police