# Oops! Ship runs into sub **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 14, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-ship-runs-into-sub/637722 "2012-10-14T21:08:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-ship-runs-into-sub/637722/21 "2014-08-24T13:01:52Z")
One reason to slam a ship into reverse is that the \*San Jacinto \* has variable pitch screws and this means that all you do is speed up the engine and reverse the blades, that’s always going to be the fastest option to stop.You’d be surprised at just how quickly you can scrub of speed. As for trying to steer around, it takes time for the rudder to swing over and it might also depend upon the waters around her at the time, if she was in a channel, or perhaps other vessels in the vicinity. Also, you have to know which way the sub was moving and predict the avoiding action it might take - no point in both of you trying to steer clear to the same patch of sea. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-ship-runs-into-sub/637722/22 "2014-08-24T17:34:06Z")
Was this the one where the sub had around a dozen passengers in the control room observing procedures? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-ship-runs-into-sub/637722/23 "2014-08-24T19:31:07Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > It’s a big ocean, but these things happen - more often than you might think: > > [USS Tautog (SSN-639) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collision_between_Soviet_submarine_K-108_and_USS_Tautog_(SSN-639)#Collision_with_K-108.2C_1970) I don’t know if I’d count that first one. That was caused by the US sub tailing a Russian sub, and the Russian sub pulled a “crazy Ivan”, a technique made famous in the movie _The Hunt for Red October_. It’s specifically done for the Russian sub to look for US subs that are tailing it in the wash zone so they can’t be detected by sonar. But the other three are fuck ups by the sub operators. > [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Was this the one where the sub had around a dozen passengers in the control room observing procedures? I think that was the USS Greeneville collision that **Elendil’s Heir** linked. A string of bad judgment all around in that event. Too many civilians in the way, a down sonar monitor in the bridge, a captain rushed for schedule violating standing procedures and rushing, the sonar operator having to prioritize tasks and assuming things. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-ship-runs-into-sub/637722/24 "2014-08-25T02:22:27Z")
Yes, that was the _Greeneville_ collision. Thanks for the update, **Quartz**. Seems an appropriate finding by the Navy inquiry board. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-ship-runs-into-sub/637722/25 "2014-08-25T03:15:18Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > I have heard that even when it’s not the ship/sub captain’s fault, if something bad happens, it’s the captain’s fault. Yeah. For example I read of one guy called… Chesty Dimbitz? Hector Wimbitz??? Something like that. Well he parked his destroyer on a sandbar. Always wondered what happened to him. More to the [point](http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/milreview/steele_claire.pdf). ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-ship-runs-into-sub/637722/26 "2014-08-25T13:44:56Z")
> [@Missy2U](#): > > Jeez Louise. My son’s currently underway - thank God it wasn’t his sub! Talk about a :eek: moment!! Was he underway nearly 2 years ago, when this happened? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-ship-runs-into-sub/637722/27 "2014-08-25T14:22:27Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Was he underway nearly 2 years ago, when this happened? 😉 Oh Good Lord. Now I’d better call my mom and explain that I’m a freakin idiot. I bet she already knows, though. :smack: ETA Thank you **Gato**. I really should know better. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-ship-runs-into-sub/637722/28 "2014-08-25T15:32:31Z")
The sub commander clearly needs to read [this](http://www.amazon.com/Avoid-Huge-Ships-John-Trimmer/dp/0870334336/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408980605&sr=8-1&keywords=huge+ships) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-ship-runs-into-sub/637722.md?page=1)