Submarine Accident Raises Grim Questions

Re “2 Civilians Were at Sub Controls During Collision,” Feb. 14: The mishap between the Greeneville, a nuclear submarine, and a Japanese fishing boat is tragic. A number of years ago my father, a World War II submarine veteran, boarded the John C. Calhoun at Kings Bay, Ga., with several other sub vets. For three days they toured the boat, ate at the officer’s mess, and yes, took turns at the helm.

It is unfortunate that guests were on board when the accident happened and that innocent lives were lost. Even more tragic would be for the Navy to cease all on-board visits by civilians.

My father wrote to me, “I had a great time on the sub . . . [it] was really a thrill for me. The officers and crew were really great to us. They gave us a lot of respect, and we in return gave them the respect they deserve. Some very smart young men! I think our subs are in very good hands.” And I think they still are.

KATHY MILLER

Placentia

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This submarine accident gets more ridiculous with each passing day. It’s incredible that it happened in the first place, but even worse is that nobody in the media knows enough to ask intelligent questions, so we’re not getting any answers.

Submarines essentially fly blind. To avoid the sort of thing that happened they have all kinds of sophisticated gear like sonar, radar, etc. Furthermore, it takes a number of people to run a submarine. The helmsman is only one of them, and he does what he is told to do. If a sub can surface without knowing the way is clear, the next time one may come up under a major carrier or the Queen Mary. In that case, we will be looking for a submarine at the bottom of the ocean instead of a fishing boat. Who was at the helm, a civilian or a rookie seaman, has nothing to do with anything. He doesn’t make the decision to surface.

JOHN WAUGEN

Anaheim

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Besides in our nuclear subs, do we also permit tourists, gawkers and curiosity seekers to traipse around in our missile bases?

FRED COLCER

Tehachapi