Former sub captain to face Admiral's Mast, learn fate Monday

Waddle

HONOLULU, Hawaii (CNN) -- The captain of the Navy sub that collided with a Japanese fishing trawler will be called before an Admiral's Mast on Monday to learn of his punishment for the fatal accident, a source told CNN on Saturday.

Cmdr. Scott Waddle was notified Friday that he was summoned to appear before Adm. Tom Fargo, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet, at 8 a.m. (2 p.m. ET) Monday at Pearl Harbor.

At the Admiral's Mast, Fargo will inform Waddle of the terms of his punishment for the February 9 accident, which left nine Japanese -- including four high school students -- missing and presumed dead.

This non-judicial punishment could include 30 days of arrest in quarters, similar to house arrest; 60 days of restricted movement after that; and the loss of one month's pay. Another option could be an official letter of reprimand in Waddle's permanent file.

Waddle's attorney, Charles Gittins, told CNN last week that Waddle "has made it clear" he would accept a non-judicial punishment if it was offered.

Other sources said Fargo's decision not to court-martial Waddle was based on the finding of a Navy Court of Inquiry that Waddle was "not guilty of criminal intent or willful wrongdoing."

In the Admiral's Mast, Waddle has the right to discuss issues with Fargo, and he can appeal the punishment to the Chief of Naval Operations.

At the conclusion of the meeting between the two men, Fargo is expected to announce the punishment in a news conference. He will also discuss the findings of the court of inquiry's investigation of the accident, and the issue of the distinguished visitors' program.

The sub hit the Ehime Maru when it was performing an emergency ascent drill to show 16 civilian guests on board the sub's capabilities.

Navy sources said it is likely other crew members will be reprimanded as well, such as the fire-control technician, Patrick Seacrest, who failed to report how close the Japanese vessel was before the submarine conducted the emergency surfacing procedure.

And sources said the senior officer on the submarine at the time of the accident, Capt. Robert L. Brandhuber, the chief of staff of the Pacific submarine fleet, who was escorting the 16 VIP civilian guests, will be faulted for failing to intervene when procedures to prepare for the emergency ascent drill were being rushed.

But the discipline of lower-ranking crew members will likely be meted out by the current commander of the USS Greeneville, which is at sea, Navy officials said.

Waddle is expected to retire by this summer.

CNN Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre contributed to this report

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Navy admiral will spare Greeneville's skipper court-martial
April 20, 2001
No court-martial for sub skipper, panel recommends
April 15, 2001
Divided court of inquiry gives recommendations on Navy sub incident
April 13, 2001
Pacific Fleet commander to be briefed on submarine accident
April 12, 2001
USS Greeneville heads to sea for first time since accident
April 11, 2001

NTSB transcripts: Greeneville/Ehime Maru 031201
U.S. Coast Guard
CINCPACFLT :: USS Greeneville (SSN 772) incident
City of Uwajima's memorial site
U.S. Navy
 • CINCPACFLT statement on the USS Greeneville incident
 • Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet
 • USS Greeneville

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