ARmy Rumour SErvice

**DavidBOC** · 24-05-2012, 04:43

I was not certain whether this should go in the "US" forum but since this is breaking and ongoing I thought I would post it here; especially as it involves a SSN.

USS Miami caught fire before 1800 today (Wednesday) while in drydock at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. From video on the TV at 2300 the fire is still burning inside the sub. Her reactor reactor was in cold shutdown for overhaul and there was no ordinance on board.

A foam fire truck is on it's way from Boston's Logan Airport at this time as well as a US Navy fire truck from Groton, Connecticut. They will assist the Maine and New Hampshire firefighters working on the fire now. (Portsmouth Naval Shipyard sits on the Maine/New Hampshire border). There are reports that several firefighter have been brought to hospital.

Submarine At Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Catches Fire « CBS Boston

Fire still burning aboard nuclear-powered USS Miami | SeacoastOnline.com

Note: Miami is a Los Angeles Class (SSN 68

fast attack sub. Of the original 62 ships in the class only 42 remain in active service.

**Cabana** · 24-05-2012, 05:39

Oh god, they will be blaming it on some terrorist organisation and using it as an excuse to invade some little tin pot country.

**DavidBOC** · 24-05-2012, 05:43

Originally Posted by Cabana

Oh god, they will be blaming it on some terrorist organisation and using it as an excuse to invade some little tin pot country.

Having been there when wife worked there the terrorists might have a difficult job getting near the nukes.

**Cabana** · 24-05-2012, 05:52

Originally Posted by DavidBOC

Having been there when wife worked there the terrorists might have a difficult job getting near the nukes.

Having spent a little time on US camps in Germany I would beg to differ. They still need to blame someone.

Anyway, I note that they state that the reactor wasn't operating at the time. Thats good then, whether it was or was not, if the fire gets to it, its not going to be a very good situation for the chaps there.

**fozzy** · 24-05-2012, 06:31

Originally Posted by DavidBOC

I was not certain whether this should go in the "US" forum but since this is breaking and ongoing I thought I would post it here; especially as it involves a SSN.

USS Miami caught fire before 1800 today (Wednesday) while in drydock at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. From video on the TV at 2300 the fire is still burning inside the sub. Her reactor reactor was in cold shutdown for overhaul and there was no ordinance on board.

A foam fire truck is on it's way from Boston's Logan Airport at this time as well as a US Navy fire truck from Groton, Connecticut. They will assist the Maine and New Hampshire firefighters working on the fire now. (Portsmouth Naval Shipyard sits on the Maine/New Hampshire border). There are reports that several firefighter have been brought to hospital.

That's nasty - I hope everyone is OK.

**fozzy** · 24-05-2012, 06:31

Originally Posted by Cabana

Oh god, they will be blaming it on some terrorist organisation and using it as an excuse to invade some little tin pot country.

Uncalled for, and this isn't the NAFFI.

**redshift** · 24-05-2012, 06:45

Just saw this on CNN....hopefully the people are OK. At least there was no ammo and the reactor was cold.

**DavidBOC** · 24-05-2012, 07:00

A few more details in this update:
Nuclear sub burns at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; at least six hurt | SeacoastOnline.com

As to the reactor, I seem to recall from when the wife worked there that the subs have all fuel removed while under overhaul. There are only a few locations where subs refuel and Portsmouth is or was one of them.

**ugly** · 24-05-2012, 07:52

Squaddie logic says its a sub, open the doors and let it sink? However that would be difficult and expensive although possibly only scratch the paint on the US defence budget!
If security is tight you can be sure someone is checking the firefighers security clearance!