Specialists of the US Navy base in Guam, examining a nuclear submarine after an accident in the South China Sea, diagnosed damage to the ship's forward ballast tanks. This was reported to USNI by four knowledgeable sources. The submarine's reactor was not damaged. The condition of the torpedo tubes through which the submarine launches all its weapons - including Tomahawk cruise missiles - is not reported.
It is not yet clear what exactly caused the accident. The US Navy announced the collision of a submarine with an "underwater object", without naming either the location of the emergency or the characteristics of the "object". It is known that the accident occurred during the combat service of the submarine in the South China Sea with a difficult bottom relief. As one of the versions, the collision of a submarine with a sunken vessel is considered, but modern submarines are equipped with equipment that allows them to notice such obstacles in advance.
Chinese experts believe that the submarine's sonar was faulty, since it did not notice such a major obstacle as a sunken ship. However, US Navy veteran Aaron Amik admitted that while sailing off enemy shores (and service in the South China Sea is just one of those) submariners do not use active sonar in order not to give themselves away.
Official Beijing accused Washington of concealing the details of the incident.
"It's a strange way to hide something if you publish a press release about it," retorted Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.
After the diagnosis is completed, the Connecticut submarine will be sent for repair to a shipyard that has a dry dock of the required size. The nearest suitable bases are in Hawaii and Washington State.
Anton Valagin