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Submarine Hampton under investigation

SAN DIEGO — The fast attack submarine Hampton, which completed an overseas deployment last month, is under investigation for unspecified reasons, Navy officials said.

“During a routine review ... conduct of procedures, although found to be safe, fell short of high Navy standards,” Submarine Squadron 11 officials said in a release Friday, provided by spokeswoman Lt. Alli Myrick.

Capt. Chip Jaenichen, squadron commander, ordered an investigation under the Judge Advocate General’s Manual, or JAGMan, after some “issues” surfaced while the submarine and squadron were preparing for a normal end-of-deployment examination, Myrick said.

The investigation was being done “to determine the extent of these issues,” officials said in the statement. “The Navy sets high standards of professionalism and takes those standards very seriously.”

Already, one officer and five enlisted sailors have received disciplinary action, Myrick said.

The Los Angeles-class Hampton, led by its skipper, Cmdr. Mike Portland, arrived Sept. 17 at the Point Loma Naval Base in San Diego, its new homeport after making a permanent move from Norfolk, Va.

Hampton will remain in port and not conduct operations until the investigation is completed “and the Navy’s high standards are met” as a precautionary measure, officials said.

“Right now, it’s not leaving the pier, it’s not getting underway,” Myrick said. The submarine also had completed a standdown.

The submarine had spent seven months at sea on deployment, which included two major exercises and an “emergent” deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet region.

DISCUSS: The investigation