Greeneville's skipper reprimanded, allowed to retire

Waddle

From Jamie McIntyre
CNN Military Affairs Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The skipper of a U.S. submarine that rammed a Japanese fisheries ship will see his career end with a letter of reprimand delivered Monday.

Cmdr. Scott Waddle received the reprimand at a hearing Monday in Hawaii before Adm. Thomas Fargo, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Fargo also fined Waddle half of his pay for two months but suspended that fine.

The reprimand effectively ends Waddle's Navy career, and he announced Monday he would retire by October 1.

IN-DEPTH Collision at sea  • Key facts  • Waddle's statement  • Description of ascent maneuver  • Key players  • Civilians on board  • Images of sunken ship  • Court of Inquiry description  • Unofficial hearing transcript  • Message board

"While I regret that my Navy career has ended in this way, I know that I am one of the lucky ones because I survived the accident," Waddle said in a written statement. Waddle said Fargo "treated me fairly and with dignity and respect, and I thank him for that." (Waddle's statement)

Waddle was commanding the USS Greeneville when it rammed the fisheries research ship Ehime Maru off Hawaii while demonstrating an emergency surfacing drill for a group of civilian visitors. The Japanese ship sank in minutes, killing nine people, including four teen-aged students.

Fargo followed the advice of a Navy inquiry, which found Waddle not guilty of willful misconduct in the accident. He also issued less-serious verbal reprimands to two other officers on board the Greeneville and ordered a review of a Navy civilian visitor program.

Waddle could have been tried on criminal charges before a military court and been forced to forfeit his retirement benefits. With Fargo's decision, Waddle will be eligible to draw a pension from the Navy.

Verbal reprimands went to Capt. Robert Brandhuber, the chief of staff of the Pacific submarine fleet, who was escorting the 16 VIP civilian guests on the Greeneville at the time of the accident; and Lt. j.g. Michael Coen, the submarine's officer of the deck.

Fargo recommended a review of procedures for approving civilian observers aboard ships, and recommended that civilians not be allowed at the controls of ships during critical maneuvers.

Waddle already has apologized and accepted responsibility for the crash. He said he plans to travel to Japan to meet with the families of the four students and five adults who were killed in the collision.

Navy to explain inquiry to Ehime Maru families
April 20, 2001
No court-martial for sub skipper, panel recommends
April 15, 2001
USS Greeneville heads to sea for first time since accident
April 11, 2001

NTSB transcripts: Greeneville/Ehime Maru 031201
CINCPACFLT : USS Greeneville (SSN 772) incident
City of Uwajima's memorial site
U.S. Navy

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