The U.S. Navy Sank Its Own Nuclear Submarine at the Dock — Two Work Crews Filled the Ballast Tanks Without Coordinating

The U.S. Navy Sank Its Own Nuclear Submarine at the Dock — Two Work Crews Filled the Ballast Tanks Without Coordinating

On May 15, 1969, the USS Guitarro (SSN-665), a Sturgeon-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarine still under final construction at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, sank at its mooring after two separate work crews — one operating in the forward section, one in the aft section, neither aware of the other’s actions — independently began filling the submarine’s ballast tanks at the same time. As water was added fore and aft simultaneously, Guitarro s…