Martin Savidge: Waddle's family worried about sub skipper's fate

Martin Savidge

CNN National Correspondent Martin Savidge has been closely following a Navy court of inquiry into last month's deadly collision of the submarine USS Greeneville and a Japanese trawler off Hawaii. The probe is focusing on the Greeneville's skipper, Cmdr. Scott Waddle, whose father and wife Savidge interviewed Sunday.

Q: What was the demeanor of the Waddles when you interviewed them? Did they seem confident or frightened about the fate of the sub commander?

SAVIDGE: Well, Cmdr. Waddle's wife, Jill Waddle, says that she is very worried what the outcome of the Navy's court of inquiry might be, especially if it possibly could mean a recommendation of court-martial. She's also concerned for her husband as well, the skipper of the USS Greeneville. She also said that both of them are very strong people -- they rely on their faith and they rely on their friends and that they will get them through this.

Q: How unusual is it for an officer from another nation's armed forces -- in this case Japan -- to take part in a U.S. Navy court of inquiry?

SAVIDGE: It's not unheard of. It has happened before in the case of the USS Saratoga, which was a Navy ship that was involved with the accidental launch of a missile against a Turkish vessel that resulted in the loss of life. There too, Turkey provided a representative from their Navy to take part in the inquiry. But it has not happened so directly where that member from another nation has actually been seated at the front of the board of inquiry, and also adding directly their comments.

Q: What kind of influence will the Japanese officer have on the court of inquiry's final decision?

SAVIDGE: Well, under the rules that were specified at the beginning of the court of inquiry, the Japanese Naval officer is allowed to be present for the proceedings. He is allowed to suggest questions that are usually asked by one of the three admirals that make up the court of inquiry. And he is allowed to take part during the deliberations which come at the end of the court of inquiry. But there is one significant point, and that is he will not have a vote in what the final outcome will be.

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