Attorneys for the senior officers from the USS Greeneville, including Cmdr. Scott Waddle, began trying to cast doubt Wednesday on the initial investigation into the Greeneville's Feb. 9 collision with the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru.

Waddle's attorney, Charles Gittins, began his cross-examination of Rear. Adm. Charles Griffiths by trying to portray his investigation as too hasty, unfair and not thorough.

"The way they presented exhibits in the hearing is in a light most unfavorable to Cmdr. Waddle and the crew and it's just not fair," Gittins said before he started his questioning.

Griffiths admitted under cross-examination that he only spent three days investigating the collision, and that he did not personally interview any of the three officers who are under scrutiny by the court of inquiry -- Waddle, executive officer Lt. Cmdr. Gerald Pfeifer and officer of the deck Lt. j.g. Michael Coen.

According to Griffiths, he relied in large part on subordinate investigators to interview members of the Greeneville's crew. He said that the subordinates did not record their interviews.

Griffiths reiterated that Waddle had not been given any warning by the sub's fire-control technician that a ship was about 2,000 yards away and closing, despite an order to reveal any surface contacts within 10,000 yards.

He also revealed that another motor vessel appeared on the Greeneville's sonar several minutes before the collision and that the fire-control technician may have been distracted by the new contact.

"The tactical situation and what was going on in the control room was much more complex than Adm. Griffiths' testimony first led people to believe," Gittins said.

Waddle did look in the general direction of the Ehime Maru during his periscope check, Griffiths revealed. Griffiths also said that Waddle both raised the vessel to give himself a better view and adjusted the periscope to add more light.

In the words of Griffiths, that was "a smart move" and "an indicator that Waddle was trying very hard to be diligent."

Earlier in the day, Griffiths summarized his investigation by making several recommendations to the panel.

1. Examine the vision of Waddle and Coen.
   They were the two officers who looked through the periscope.


2. Examine the search and rescue capabilities of submarines.
   "We're not well equipped to do that and that's an area that needs to be looked at," Griffiths told the panel.


3. Examine the use of active sonar and its advantages.
   The Greeneville had used a less powerful type of sonar at the time of the crash called "passive sonar."

Griffiths also addressed the periscope use just prior to the crash. He said that his analysis showed that the Japanese vessel Ehime Maru was 2,200 yards away from the Greeneville when the crew looked through the periscope.

The officers made a pass with the periscope in the hazy and overcast conditions that day. "I'm sure that was a factor that precluded the ship from seeing the Ehime Maru," Griffiths testified.

The investigation showed that Waddle and Coen conducted a sweep of the periscope for 80 seconds. "The way the periscope was operated was not to the standards we like," Griffiths said.

The panel asked Griffiths to summarize what he thought caused the collision. He said that there were five elements that contributed to the crash:

1. A lack of full manning on the ship, particularly in the sonar are that was "handicapped" by leaving seven of the sonar officers on land.
2. The sonar repeater was out of commission, perhaps the crew should have been "more deliberate to compensate for the loss of gear," Griffiths said.
3. The number and location of visitors that caused "passive interference" with the crew.
4. The "misorderings of priorities and artificial urgency" to get back to shore since the tour was 45 minutes behind schedule.
5. Griffiths said that the crew was "not backing the commanding officer as much as they should have," because they were accustomed to his confident and respected leadership style.

Meanwhile, Waddle's attorney has backed off his statement saying that Waddle would not testify in the inquiry. Charles Gittins said that the Navy wants to know what Waddle will say before deciding whether to offer him testimonial immunity.

"If he is granted testimonial immunity, I don't think there's anything I could do to keep him from testifying," Gittins said. "If he's not granted testimonial immunity, it's a decision we'll have to make at the time, when we're given the opportunity to present evidence."

Gittins said that he hopes the Japanese will pressure the Navy to grant Waddle the testimonial immunity.

After the session wrapped up Wednesday, reporters in the courtroom said that Lt. Cmdr. Pfeifer, the executive officer on the Greeneville, talked to some of the families of the Ehime Maru victims.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Pfeifer said, according to the journalists. They said that it was not an apology, but rather an expression of sympathy.

Previous Stories:

• March 6, 2001: Attorney: Waddle Will Not Testify
• March 5, 2001: Court Of Inquiry Looks For Answers
• March 3, 2001: Sub Skipper Wants Immunity
• March 2, 2001: Ehime Maru School Students Graduate
• March 1, 2001: Waddle: 'Part Of Me Died' In Collision
• March 1, 2001: Carlisle, Donohue Among Sub Guests
• February 27, 2001: Japan: Bush Considering Salvage Of Sunken Ship
• February 26, 2001: Waddle Has 'Sincere Regret' About Collision
• February 25, 2001: Sub Investigation Could Widen
• February 22, 2001: Navy Court Of Inquiry Could Be Delayed
• February 20, 2001: Navy Likely To Raise Ehime Maru
• February 20, 2001: Sub Mishap Survivors Still Haunted
• February 19, 2001: Sucess Of Raising Ehime Maru 'Questionable'
• February 19, 2001: Robot Sub Hauled Out For Repairs
• February 19, 2001: Tennessee Town Supports Sub Crew
• February 16, 2001: Search Continues While NTSB Interviews Sub Crew
• February 15, 2001: Police Warn Of Sub Victim Fund Scam
• February 15, 2001: Japanese Outraged Over Sub Revelation
• February 15, 2001: Two Island Residents On Greeneville
• February 15, 2001: Help Identify The Civilians On The Sub
• February 14, 2001: Sub Captain Could Face Criminal Inquiry
• February 13, 2001: OHA Responds To State Audit
• February 13, 2001: Ehime Maru Crew Describes Disaster
• February 12, 2001: Bush Offers Prayer For Sub Victims
• February 12, 2001: NTSB Begins Sub Collision Probe
• February 11, 2001: Ehime Maru Captain Speaks
• February 10, 2001: Sub Commander Reassigned As Search Continues
• February 9, 2001: Sub Collided During Emergency Maneuver