Admiral will
get report on
submarine
collision today

The document could
seal the fate of the
Greeneville's skipper

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

Adm. Thomas Fargo, Pacific Fleet commander, is expected to receive a 2,000-page report this afternoon from three senior U.S. admirals investigating the collision between the nuclear attack submarine USS Greeneville and the Japanese fishing training vessel that killed nine people two months ago.

The report includes a transcript of the formal court of inquiry that took two-and-half weeks.

The panel members include Vice Adm. John Nathman, a Navy aviator and the president of the board; and Rear Adms. David Stone, a former destroyer skipper and a battle group commander, and Paul Sullivan, the only submariner.

Also expected to be present is Rear Adm. Isamu Ozawa, a Japanese submarine officer, who was allowed to sit through the investigation and the formal deliberations, but could not vote on the final recommendations.

Fargo's options range from no action to court-martial action for members of Greeneville's crew.

Navy officials said Fargo will make a determination fairly soon on whether any member of Greeneville's crew, including its skipper Cmdr. Scott Waddle, will face disciplinary action.

Sen. Daniel Inouye and acting Navy Secretary Robert Pirie, a former submariner, have said they hoped Waddle will not be court-martialed.

Such a drastic action would hurt Navy morale, Pirie said.

Charles Gittins, Waddle's attorney said: "We await Adm. Fargo's decision and trust that his decision will be one that reflects Scott's substantial contributions to the Navy over the past 20 years; his integrity in providing testimony under oath and subject to cross-examination where not required by law or court procedures and where such testimony was not in his own self-interest; and, that reflects that the collision was a terrible accident resulting from a series of individually small, but honest mistakes by good people trying to do their best."

Waddle faces charges ranging from negligent homicide to dereliction of duty for the Feb. 9 accident that took place nine miles south of Diamond Head.

The Ehime Maru sank within 10 minutes and now sits on the bottom of the ocean, 2,003 feet down.

The Greeneville spent more than a month in a Pearl Harbor dry dock to undergo $2 million worth of repairs. It began its first sea trials at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Waddle was relieved of his command on Feb. 10, but two other officers -- who were parties to the court of inquiry -- are still part of the crew. They are Lt. Cmdr. Gerald Pfeifer, Greeneville's executive officer; and Lt. j.g. Michael Coen, the sub's officer of the deck on the day of the accident.

Also at issue is the Navy's distinguished-visitor's program under which 16 civilians went to sea with the Greeneville. The problem with the Greeneville's voyage on Feb. 9 is that it was mainly to entertain the 16 civilians, a violation of Navy policy.