Battered Cole begins long journey home

A tugboat aids the USS Cole on its way back to the United States from the Yemeni port of Aden

In this story: Ship will return to service Dual investigations under way RELATED STORIES, SITES

From CNN Senior International Correspondent Walter Rodgers

ADEN, Yemen (CNN) -- With its crew smartly saluting to the strains of the American national anthem, the bomb-scarred USS Cole left the Yemeni port of Aden on Sunday morning bound for a repair trip to the United States.

Two Yemeni tugboats began pulling the $1 billion destroyer out of Aden about 9:30 a.m. local time. Naval officials said it would take several hours for the tugs to lead the 505-foot Cole out to a floating Norwegian dry-dock vessel, on which it will be placed for the voyage to the United States.

Although it could not leave under its own power, the Cole flew an American flag signifying it was under way. The sounds of "The Star Spangled Banner" drifted across the water from the ship's missile deck.

VIDEO CNN's Walter Rodgers shows the USS Cole on its way Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     GALLERY New photographs give closeup view of Cole damage     INTERACTIVE 'Shipboard terrorist threatcon measures' US Defense Department Threat Conditions Timeline: The attack on the USS Cole See a 3-dimensional image of the USS Cole Get the plugin Animation of a transport ship conducting a recovery procedure at sea     MESSAGE BOARD USS Cole attack

Small patrol boats outfitted with machine guns escorted the crippled ship as it made its way out of the southern Yemeni port.

Suspected terrorists riding aboard a small boat loaded with explosives struck the Cole on October 12 as it sat in Aden, at the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula. The ship was in port for refueling.

Ship will return to service

The massive blast killed 17 sailors and blew a hole 40 feet by 40 feet (12 meters by 12 meters) in the ship's midsection. The explosion seriously damaged the Cole's No. 1 engine as well as some berths and the petty officer's mess.

U.S. naval officials have vowed the ship will return to service after it is repaired. For naval authorities, it's a point of pride that the suspected suicide terrorists failed to send the giant warship to the bottom of the harbor.

A U.S. official said Saturday the USS Cole was "structurally sound, patched up and seaworthy to be towed into deep water." He said more than 200 sailors were expected to be aboard the Cole as it made its way out to sea.

The official declined to say what route the destroyer will take on its journey home aboard the heavy-lift Blue Marlin.

The vessel has a large open deck like an oceangoing flatbed truck. The Blue Marlin is designed to haul offshore oil rigs.

Dual investigations under way

Two investigations are being conducted into the source of the bomb blast.

Technicians with the Federal Bureau of Investigation are studying forensic evidence collected from the scene to trace who was responsible for the bombing. Evidence includes fragments of the small boat, collected by divers from the harbor floor.

Yemeni authorities also are interviewing scores of people about their knowledge of the blast. So far more than 2,000 including some eyewitnesses have been questioned about the explosion.

Last week Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said a preliminary review had produced "positive" results, although he declined to elaborate.

Shortly after the attack, bomb-making materials were found in an apartment near the harbor. Authorities also found what they believe to be a hideout used by the attackers and a car and trailer they suspect were used to put a boat carrying the explosives into the water.

No one has been charged. Officials have refused to say who they think was involved.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Pentagon probes Cole's security
October 26, 2000
Yemeni president cites 'positive' developments in Cole attack probe
October 25, 2000
U.S. reports increase in terrorist threats
October 24, 2000
Pentagon: Transport ship for USS Cole to arrive in Aden on Saturday
October 24, 2000
Crippled Cole awaits tow vessel
October 23, 2000
Former U.S. Army sergeant pleads guilty in embassy bombings
October 20, 2000
Terrorism signs worry U.S. forces, prompt travel alert
October 18, 2000

The United States Navy
Welcome to the Official Homepage of the Government of Bahrain
MOFA Qatar - English Government of Qatar
U.S. Department of Defense
 • The Pentagon
Defense Intelligence Agency
U.S. Senate Committee on Intelligence
United States Senate Committee on Armed Services
National Security Council

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.