Skipper sacked after grounding submarine

HONOLULU -- The new skipper of the U.S. submarine that sank a Japanese fishing vessel off Hawaii was relieved of duty after grounding the sub during an approach to the Saipan harbor, the Navy said.

Cmdr. David Bogdan was relieved of duties on the USS Greeneville "due to lack of confidence in his ability to command," a Navy report said.

The nuclear-powered attack submarine will be under the temporary command of Capt. Robert Guy Jr. until a new commanding officer is permanently assigned, the Navy said Wednesday.

The Pearl Harbor-based submarine is the same vessel that rammed and sank the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru off Oahu on Feb. 9 while demonstrating an emergency surfacing maneuver for 16 civilians.

A $40 million recovery effort is under way to get the bodies of nine men and teen-age boys believed to still be inside the sunken Ehime Maru.

The Greeneville was on its first major deployment since the sinking when it grounded while trying to enter the Saipan seaport on Aug. 27, the Navy said.

A preliminary investigation found that the submarine -- which had just undergone a $2 million repair to its rubber skin -- brushed the bottom in extremely rough seas.

Bogdan and Lt. Cmdr. Gerald Pfeifer, the Greeneville's executive officer, were found guilty at an admiral's mast conducted by Rear Adm. Joseph Enright of the Commander Submarine Group Seven, of "hazarding a vessel," and received letters of reprimand.

The investigation into the Saipan incident concluded there were "several navigation and piloting deficiencies that led to the grounding."

The vessel's assistant navigator, whose identity is being withheld by the Navy, was found guilty of dereliction of duty and also received a letter of reprimand.

Bogdan became skipper of the Greeneville after Cmdr. Scott Waddle was relieved of his command because of the Ehime Maru accident.

Waddle will retire at the end of this month with a little more than 20 years of service and an annual pension of about $34,740.

Lt. Cmdr. Kelly Merrell, spokeswoman for the Pacific Fleet Submarine Force, said the Greeneville is currently in Guam where it underwent $120,000 worth of repairs, which were completed Monday.