One sailor dead, 23 injured.
The San Francisco is a Los Angeles class SSN. The 24th. boat of the class and the 6th. one built by NNS. She was commisioned in 1981.
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/01/09/nuclear.submarine/CNN) -- A U.S. sailor died Sunday, after sustaining injuries in a nuclear submarine accident a day earlier in the western Pacific, according to a statement from the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
The sailor -- whose identity has not been released -- was one of 24 wounded when the USS San Francisco ran aground about 350 miles (560 km) south of Guam -- the nearest land mass -- while it was conducting submerged operations, USPF said.
Navy sources said the submarine was en route to Brisbane, Australia for a port visit.
Lt. Adam Clampitt of USPF, speaking to CNN from his base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, said there was no damage to the nuclear reactor.
The submarine is slowly making its way back to its port in Guam, where it is expected to arrive Monday afternoon, Guam time. Guam is 15 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
The submarine did sustain some damage to its exterior.
"When the ship arrives back to its port, there will be an investigation to evaluate the extent of the damage," Clampitt said.
The accident happened Saturday around noon Guam time and a Navy medical team was immediately dispatched to the remote location. The team arrived Sunday morning to treat the wounded, but the one sailor died that afternoon, Clampitt said.
"Anytime we lose a shipmate it's a great loss," he said, offering his sincere condolences to the sailor's family and friends.
The medical team remains on board the submarine, as it slowly returns to Guam, to treat the other 23 injured crew members for a range of injuries including broken bones, lacerations, bruises and a back injury.
One of the crew members' injuries are "extremely serious," Clampitt said.
The San Francisco is a Los Angeles class SSN. The 24th. boat of the class and the 6th. one built by NNS. She was commisioned in 1981.