USS Greeneville

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USS Greeneville
USS Greeneville (SSN-772).jpg
USS Greeneville (SSN-772) off the coast of Honolulu, Hawaii carrying the ASDS.
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameUSS Greeneville
Namesake Town of Greeneville
Ordered14 December 1988
Builder Newport News Shipbuilding
Laid down28 February 1992
Launched17 September 1994
Sponsored by Tipper Gore
Commissioned16 February 1996
HomeportPoint Loma, San Diego
MottoVolunteers Defending Frontiers
StatusIn active service
Badge USS Greeneville SSN-772 Crest.png
General characteristics
Class & type Los Angeles-class submarine
Displacement
  • 6,000 long tons (6,096 t) light
  • 6,927 long tons (7,038 t) full
  • 927 long tons (942 t) dead
Length362 ft (110 m)
Beam33 ft (10 m)
Draft31 ft (9.4 m)
Propulsion
  • 1 × S6G PWR nuclear reactor with D2W core (165 MW), HEU 93.5% [1] [2]
  • 2 × steam turbines (33,500) shp
  • 1 × shaft
  • 1 × secondary propulsion motor 325 hp (242 kW)
Complement12 officers, 98 men
Armament
  • 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • 12 × vertical launch Tomahawk missiles

USS Greeneville is a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) named after Greeneville, Tennessee. [3] The contract to build the boat was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia, on 14 December 1988, and her keel was laid down on 28 February 1992. She was launched on 17 September 1994, sponsored by Tipper Gore, and commissioned on 16 February 1996. [4]

Contents

The Greeneville had a deadly collision with a Japanese fishing vessel, Ehime Maru, off the coast of Oahu in February 2001. [5]

Namesake

She was named after Greeneville, Tennessee, home of President Andrew Johnson, after local residents, government officials, and businesses such as Greeneville Metal Manufacturing (which builds submarine components) began a campaign for a submarine to be named after their town. [6] [7]

Boat's history

Ehime Maru incident

USS Greeneville at a Hawaiian dry dock in February 2001, following collision. USS Greeneville (SSN 772) - dry dock Pearl Harbor (1).jpg
USS Greeneville at a Hawaiian dry dock in February 2001, following collision.

On 9 February 2001, while conducting a main ballast tank blow off the coast of Oahu while hosting several civilian "distinguished visitors", mainly donors to the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the Greeneville struck the 191-foot (58 m) Japanese fishery high school training ship Ehime Maru (えひめ丸), causing the fishing boat to sink in less than ten minutes and the death of nine people; three crew members, four students and two teachers. [8] The commander of the Greeneville, Commander Scott Waddle, accepted full responsibility for the incident. However, after he faced a court of inquiry, it was decided a full court-martial would be unnecessary and opted for a non-judicial punishment and administrative disciplinary action to the captain and some crew members; Commander Waddle's request to retire was approved for 1 October 2001 with an honorable discharge. [9]

Saipan incident

On August 27, 2001, the USS Greeneville ran aground while entering the port of Saipan during a routine deployment in the Western Pacific. The incident caused minor damage to the submarine’s underside, rudder, and propulsion system, requiring dry-dock repairs and delaying the rest of the mission.

Following the grounding, Commander David Bogdan was relieved of his command. The navigator and assistant navigator were also removed from duty, and both the navigator and the executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Gerald Pfieffer, were later found guilty of “hazarding a vessel” in a disciplinary hearing led by Rear Admiral Joseph Enright.. [10] [11]

USS Ogden collision

On 27 January 2002, less than a year after colliding with Ehime Maru and five months after running aground, the Greeneville collided with USS Ogden (LPD-5) during a personnel transfer off the coast of Oman, opening a 5 by 18 inch (130 by 460 mm) hole in one of Ogden's fuel tanks and spilling several thousand gallons of fuel. After the collision, both vessels left the area under their own power. [12] [13]

Post-2002 service

Following the investigation regarding the collision with Ogden, Commander Lindsay R. Hankins was permitted to remain in command of the Greeneville. Despite the fact the Ogden's commanding officer was fired, Hankins went on to have a successful command tour with his XO LCDR Mark D. Pyle. Capt. Hankins went on to be awarded the coveted Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership. LCDR Pyle also went on to have the honor of being bestowed with the John Paul Jones award, which recognizes outstanding leadership. [14]

On 9 July 2004, when Commander Lorin Selby relieved Hankins as commanding officer of the Greeneville, Captain Cecil Haney, Commodore, Submarine Squadron One, stated that "The performance of USS Greeneville during Captain Hankins' tour has been nothing but remarkable. It has been marked by top grades in both tactical and engineering readiness. Lee Hankins was handpicked by our leadership for the job as CO of the Greeneville. They got it right." [15] Hankins was selected for promotion to Captain in 2005 and served as Commodore of Submarine Squadron One (COMSUBRON 1) based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Captain Hankins later served as the Chief of Staff for the Commander, Submarine Forces Pacific.

Between 25 and 27 March 2006, a series of anti-submarine warfare exercises were held in Hawaiian waters that included the Greeneville; Carrier Strike Group Nine; the nuclear-powered attack submarines Seawolf, Cheyenne, Tucson, and Pasadena, as well as land-based P-3 Orion aircraft from patrol squadrons VP-4, VP-9, and VP-47. [16] [17]

In October 2007, the Greeneville left her home port of Pearl Harbor to conduct a Depot Modernization Period at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME. She returned to Pearl Harbor, HI in July 2009. In early 2011, the Greeneville returned from a Western Pacific deployment under the command of CDR Carullo.

Awards

Awarded the 2016 "Battle E" award from Submarine Squadron One after a successful western Pacific deployment. [18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "International Panel on Fissile Materials". fissilematerials.org. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  2. ↑ "Validation of the Use of Low Enriched Uranium as a Replacement for Highly Enriched Uranium in US Submarine Reactors" (PDF). dspace.mit.edu. June 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  3. ↑ "USS Greeneville Skipper Sends Holiday Greetings". The Greeneville Sun. 26 November 2009. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "Greeneville (SSN-772)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  5. ↑ Shepard, Brad (11 February 2001). "Sub sinks Japanese training ship; four dead". CNN. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  6. ↑ Smith, Roy C. III (August 1991). "A Tale of Two Cities". Proceedings of the U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  7. ↑ U.S. Navy (19 May 2024). "USS Greeneville Arrives at New Homeport of Naval Base Point Loma". Commander, Submarine Forces Pacific. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "U.S. sub hits Japanese fishing vessel, 10 missing". CNN . 9 February 2001. Archived from the original on 11 April 2005.
  9. ↑ US Navy, Record of Proceedings https://www.jag.navy.mil/library/investigations/GREENEVILLE_Combined_COI_Rpt.pdf Archived 1 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Kakesako, Gregg K. (12 September 2001). "Cmdr. David Bogdan is held responsible for the sub's grounding in Saipan on Aug. 27". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  11. ↑ Kakesako, Gregg K. (3 September 2001). "He feels damage to the USS Greeneville in Saipan was avoidable". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  12. ↑ "Unlucky Sub Surfaces Again". CBS News. 27 January 2002. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  13. ↑ "Sub Greeneville collides with Navy ship". The Washington Times. 28 January 2002. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  14. ↑ "2005 NAVY LEAGUE AWARD RECIPIENTS". marines.mil. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  15. ↑ Rush, David. "Former Greeneville Skipper Selected for Vice Adm. James Stockdale Leadership Award". Navy.mil. Retrieved 2 October 2019.[ dead link ]
  16. ↑ Roache, Tim; Cook, Michael (17 March 2006). "Lincoln Carrier Strike Group Conducts Undersea Warfare Training". NNS060317-06. USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 13 September 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
  17. ↑ "Carrier Strike Group 9 Enters 7th Fleet AOR". NNS060320-11. USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs. 20 March 2006. Archived from the original on 13 September 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
  18. ↑ "USS Greeneville earns Battle E". Submarine Force Pacific. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.

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