Submarine Skipper Takes Full Responsibility For Collision With Boat as Navy Probe Ends
March 21, 2001 4:30 am ET
HONOLULU -- The commander of the U.S. submarine that sank a Japanese fishing vessel, killing nine passengers, accepted responsibility for the collision, but his lawyer argued that he not be court-martialed.
A U.S. Navy probe into the sinking of the Ehime Maru ended 12 days of open proceedings Tuesday, with Court of Inquiry President Vice Adm. John Nathman saying that a thorough understanding of what occurred can serve to prevent a similar tragedy.
Four teenage students of a fisheries high school in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, two of their teachers, and three crew members of the 499-ton Ehime Maru are missing since the ship was struck and sunk by the 6,080-ton USS Greeneville Feb. 9, while the nuclear attack submarine was performing an emergency surfacing drill for 16 civilian guests on board.
Charles Gittins, the civilian counsel for Cmdr. Scott Waddle, urged the court's three-admiral panel not to propose a court-martial when they issue a recommendations for further action to Adm. Thomas Fargo, head of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, in about two months.
Mr. Gittins told the admirals that if they recommend a court-martial for Cmdr. Waddle, "you're going to have a tough time finding commanding officers to serve in this Navy."