A Navy Nuclear Attack Submarine Sank Thanks To a Uncovered Hatch

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Key Points: Submarine sinkings are a nightmare for any navy, but sometimes they occur in port due to human error. In 1969, the U.S. Navy‘s nearly complete USS Guitarro sank at the San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard after workers left hatches open during night shifts.

-Poor communication between nuclear and non-nuclear crews led to uncontrolled flooding, causing the submarine to submerge at its dock. Recovery operations delayed the project by three years and cost an additional $140 million, embarrassing the Navy.

-Similarly, in 2024, China faced its own submarine mishap, underscoring the challenges of efficient shipbuilding even among world powers.

When Submarines Sink at Port: The USS Guitarro’s Embarrassing 1969 Mishap

It’s the subject of any submariner’s worst nightmare. What if a sub sinks in the open sea? That’s unthinkable and liable to kill everyone on board. But sometimes submarines can also sink in port, which in some ways is just as embarrassing and shows that shipyard workers and the navy itself don’t know what it is doing. 

This is what happened when a new Chinese nuclear-powered attack submarine capsized while under construction this spring. In September, U.S. defense honchos announced the Chinese mishap after an eagle-eyed think tank analyst discovered Beijing’s lead sub was underwater using satellite images.

USS Guitarro: A Sub Sinking at Port Also Happened in the United States

Sometimes, workers just make mistakes, and these challenges have also happened to the U.S. Navy. 

The USS Guitarro (SSN 665) went down at port in San Francisco Bay in 1969. The Guitarro, a Sturgeon-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, excited the U.S. Navy. This was during the height of the Cold War, and the United States needed a morale boost after suffering from the costly Tet Offensive in 1968 during the Vietnam War.

A new nuclear-powered submarine was believed to offer a boost to a military struggling mightily in Southeast Asia. 

It Was Almost Ready

Workers were almost done with the Guitarro, and it would head out to patrol against Soviet shipping in a matter of months. 

The nuclear-powered propulsion system was beautiful and was sure to outclass any sub the Russians had in the water at the time. 

Workers placed final checks on the Guitarro at the San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard. Everything was going according to plan. 

They had been constructing the boat for four years, and it would be commissioned later in 1969 if all went well.

On that Fateful Night: Hatches Left Open and Submarine Sank 

Then, one night on May 15, 1969, all hell broke loose. 

The night shift workers were frantic. The Guitarro started sinking at the dock. Somehow, hatches on the ship were uncovered. It could have been a clearer work plan that probably led to the mistakes. There were different crews for nuclear and non-nuclear-related tasks. 

The two groups needed to communicate more effectively. Oh my God, they exclaimed. More and more water was getting in the boat, and they couldn’t do anything about it. Finally, all hopes to save the boat faded. 

Down the sub went, to the bottom of the bay.

How Could This Happen to the U.S. Navy?

Now what? 

The new jewel of the U.S. fleet was sunk, and the Navy wasn’t sure who to blame. What happened and who was responsible? These questions needed to be answered quickly. The Navy investigated and determined that the sinking was due to “uncontrolled flooding within the forward part of the ship.” But why? The boat was practically complete. How the heck would that much water rush in and cause the sinking?

Investigators blamed the shipyard workers for leaving the hatches open. Somehow, the different crews were not coordinating optimally. Different types of workers toiling on the sub, and one crew “zigged” while the other “zagged.” This was an epic failure.

So, the crews came up with the only plan that would work. The sub needed to be re-flooded so it could re-surface. This operation took three days. And then you probably guessed there would be significant delays and monetary costs. That’s right. Three more years of construction to the tune of $140 million. This greatly embarrassed the Navy and the U.S. defense industrial base.

The Aftermath Must Have Been Excruciating

You could imagine the after-action review of this stinker. 

The Chief of Naval Operations was probably apoplectic and assuredly was called to Congressional hearings to explain in detail. Accidents do happen to even the most experienced shipyard workers. But letting a vessel sink at the dock is one of the most humiliating mishaps that would stun the most steely-eyed mariner. 

You often hear the common refrain that the current U.S. shipbuilding industry is too slow and inefficient to keep up with the Chinese. But even China, despite being the most prolific shipbuilder in the world, is having trouble with its own sub that sank. Shipbuilders in both countries are hurrying to pump out more vessels in a new Cold War between the two nuclear powers.

Sometimes, slow and steady wins the race when it comes to shipbuilding. Let’s just be glad that during the 2024 Chinese sub sinking and the 1969 American sinking, no one lost their lives.

About the Author

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.