US nuclear submarine hits 'an object' in South China Sea

United States Navy submarine USS Connecticut collided with an unidentified object while operating in the Indo-Pacific region.

SSN 22, the Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine, was submerged when it impacted the object. The incident happened on October 2 in the South China Sea but was officially acknowledged by the United States Navy on Thursday.

However, the US Navy did not clarify what the object that hit the submarine was.

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According to American media reports, at least 11 submarine crew were injured in the incident.

The US Navy later confirmed that the crew suffered no life-threatening injuries and that the nuclear-propulsion plant of the submarine was unaffected.

The submarine is expected to pull into Guam for repairs soon.

The extent of damage of the submarine is being assessed, and an investigation is underway into the incident.

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USS Connecticut is one of US Navy's most capable attack submarines. The Sea Wolf Class submarines were conceptualised and built to take on complex Soviet submarines.

The latest incident evokes memories of the incident involving another US Navy submarine USS San Fransisco which rammed into a mountain at the depth of 500 feet. One crew member had lost his life in that mishap.

Since then, the US Navy has been constantly upgrading its SUBSAFE programme which involved rigorous assessment of design, manufacture and maintenance of the nuclear submarine fleet.