Defense Media Network

USS Montpelier and USS San Jacinto Collision Aftermath

In this video, put together from two shot by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Dimestico, aboard a helicopter from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman, the Los Angeles-class attack submarine Montpelier (SSN 765) and Ticonderoga-class Aegis cruiser San Jacinto (CG 56) cruise under their own power. Montpelier seems to have come off far worse than San Jacinto, which is to be expected. The submarine definitely seems down by the stern, and the fact that the vertical rudder does not show in any of the video suggests it has been sheared off, although it may be that it doesn’t show above the surface due to the boat being down by the stern. The possibility of damage to the submarine’s screw seems high, considering what seems to be relatively high cavitation at what looks like a fairly low speed. Initial, and unconfirmed, reports are that San Jacinto suffered serious damage to her sonar dome, and it appears that some of the plating on the port side amidships below the waterline is also damaged.

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From Employee Accounts