CNN: A submerged U.S. submarine hit a Navy warship early Friday in the Strait of Hormuz near Iran, damaging both vessels and causing minor injuries, Navy officials said.
(CNN) — A submerged U.S. submarine hit a Navy warship early Friday in the Strait of Hormuz near Iran, damaging both vessels and causing minor injuries, Navy officials said.
Fifteen sailors were slightly hurt aboard the submarine USS Hartford and returned to duty, a Navy spokesman said. No injuries were reported aboard the amphibious ship USS New Orleans.
There was significant damage to the sail, or tower-like structure atop the submarine, the officials said. The New Orleans lost 25,000 gallons of diesel fuel from one of three punctures to its hull, the Navy said.
"Obviously the Strait of Hormuz is a very active shipping lane," Navy spokesman Lt. Nate Christensen said. "We are trying to evaluate the extent of the spill."
Both vessels were able to operate under their own power, after the collision, which occurred about 1 a.m. (5 p.m. ET, Thursday).
The Navy was determining where the vessels should head for repairs, and the collision was under investigation. The fuel spill has not affected other vessels in the strait, Christensen said.
Both vessels were headed to ports in the Persian Gulf to stock up on provisions and allow for some recreation, he said.
Christensen said there were about 200 sailors in the sub and 1,000 sailors and Marines aboard the ship.
The strait is between the United Arab Emirates and Iran, linking the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, and is heavily used by oil tankers.
Both vessels are on regularly scheduled deployments to the U.S. Navy Central Command area of responsibility, and conduct Maritime Security Operations.
