The US military finally released the results of the investigation into the collision accident of the "Connecticut" submarine in the South China Sea, claiming that the submarine hit an "unknown undersea mountain range". The sharp-eyed US media captured the latest picture of the submarine in the latest public photos of the US military, believing that this was the first "official photo" of the "Connecticut" after the accident. After analysis, the US media believes that the submarine's hull is not damaged, and some black structures are erected on the hull, but it is not known whether the bow of the submarine, especially the dome of the active sonar array below the waterline, is damaged.
The USNI News website published the "truth" about the impact of the US Seawolf-class attack nuclear submarine USS Connecticut in the South China Sea on November 1. The U.S. Navy has concluded that the Connecticut hit an "unknown mountain range" in the South China Sea.
U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos del Toro visits Guam, and the USS Connecticut appears in the background
The "Warzone" column of the US "Power" website also paid attention to this report, and also found that in a photo released by the US Navy, the "Connecticut" submarine could be seen in the background. The photograph was taken in Guam on October 30, when U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos del Toro boarded the U.S. Navy's "Emory M. The S. Rand submarine supply ship tour, in the background can see the hull of a submarine and part of the hull.
Warzone said it appeared to be the first official photo of the USS Connecticut appearing on Guam after the impact. Although the field of view is limited, it can be clearly seen in the photograph that the collision did not cause damage to the submarine's hull, but the condition of the submarine's head remains in doubt, including the dome of the active sonar array below the waterline. The photos also show that some cables are mounted on the submarine's enclosure, and some black structures are erected on the surface of the hull.
Given Guam's strategic importance in the western Pacific, Toro's visit is not surprising, and as U.S. Secretary of the Navy, it makes sense to want to see the Connecticut nuclear submarine for yourself, which is one of the U.S. Navy's most valuable assets.
The report believes that the shell of the "Connecticut" is not damaged, which also makes sense of the "hitting the mountain". But satellite imagery taken on October 20 still raises suspicions that the submarine's bow may have been badly damaged, particularly with its internal sonar array, the body of which is a giant sphere.
"Warzone" mentioned that USNI News also reported that the collision caused damage to the ballast water tank at the front of the submarine, which forced the submarine to float up at the launch site and sail all the way to Guam. If this is true, it would put the submarine in a "very vulnerable" position, making it easier for adversaries to track it.
Now the more embarrassing situation facing the Connecticut is that it may not be able to carry out repairs in Guam. The commander of the USS Emory S. Rand said in a statement sent to USNI News that an assessment of the damage from the USS Connecticut was still ongoing. But Theater believes that from satellite imagery and other information that has emerged one after another, it seems that the U.S. Navy is increasingly likely to move it elsewhere for repairs, because Guam does not have a large dry dock available.
On October 2, after the COLLISION between the US Seawolf-class attack nuclear submarine "Connecticut" and an underwater unidentified object in the South China Sea, the Pentagon has been silent about the cause of the accident, causing widespread speculation and concern from the outside world. The U.S. Naval Academy website reported on The 27th that sources familiar with the preliminary findings revealed that early analysis believed that the Connecticut hit the undersea mountains.
In this regard, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian made it clear last month that China has repeatedly expressed serious concerns about relevant incidents and asked the US side to clarify. Zhao Lijian said that for a long time, under the banner of "freedom of navigation," the US side has stirred up trouble in the South China Sea, posing a serious threat and major risk to regional peace and stability. China and other countries bordering the South China Sea have reason to ask the United States to answer: What is the mission of sending nuclear submarines to quietly dive in the South China Sea this time? What exactly did you crash into this time? Why did it collide? Did it cause a nuclear leak that would bring nuclear pollution to the marine environment? As a party, the United States has the responsibility and obligation to elaborate on the situation related to the incident and respond to the concerns and concerns of regional countries and the international community.
Zhao Li insisted that at the same time, I would also like to emphasize that the South China Sea is the common home of regional countries and should not become a hunting ground for the United States to seek geopolitical self-interest. The United States frequently and on a large scale dispatches warships and warplanes to the South China Sea to provoke and provoke, show off force, undermine freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, and threaten the sovereignty and security of China and other countries. The United States is the biggest driver of militarization in the South China Sea. The US side should change course, stop the above-mentioned erroneous acts, and play a positive role in peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Reporter Xu Luming
Editor/Ma Xiaoqing