The attorney for former USS Greeneville skipper, Cmdr. Scott Waddle, challenged the findings of a witness who reconstructed the events that led up to the submarine's collision with the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru.

The collision took place one month ago Friday. It was day five of the Navy's court of inquiry into the incident.

Charles Gittins tried to refute the reconstruction conducted by Cmdr. Thomas Kyle, deputy chief of staff for Rear Adm. Al Konetzni, commander of the U.S. Pacific submarine fleet. Konetzni arranged the tour for the 16 civilian guests on the sub that day.

During testimony Thursday and Friday, Kyle spent hours recounting the events before the collision based on sonar data from the Greeneville.

Gittins claimed that the Navy had never used that method of reconstruction in any prior investigation. He also got Kyle to admit that he had to call a Navy contractor to figure out how to process the data on which he based his testimony.

In earlier questioning by the three-admiral panel, Kyle said that it appeared that the Greeneville's rushed the crew through standard operating procedures before it collided with a Japanese fishing vessel.

Kyle is considered an submarine expert. He told the panel that a longer sonar search before the sub's rise to periscope depth would have prevented errors that led to the collision.

"Time would have helped tremendously," Kyle said. "A little bit more time ... would have made it clear as could be."

Kyle indicated that sub Cmdr. Waddle spent less than half the time necessary to collect "good data" before rising.

He said that the Greeneville should have spent about three minutes in a steady course and speed to get solid sonar information. But Kyle testified that the sub did so for just 35 seconds, not enough time to get a clear bead on the Ehime Maru and another boat in the area.

The Ehime Maru was about 2,200 feet away from the Greeneville when the crew conducted a search.

Officers did not spend enough time scanning the surface with the periscope, according to Kyle. The investigation found that the periscope was used for 80 seconds.

Kyle also eleborated on the already well-known shortage of qualified sonar operators on the Greeneville. Kyle revealed that a petty officer, who happened to be picking up his coat, took note of the sonar room shortage and took up duty just minutes before the collision.

According to Kyle, when Petty Officer Roberto Reyes learned after the collision that the Ehime Maru had been on the sonar screen, "he felt very bad he missed the contact ... he broke down ... lost his composure."

A total of nine Japanese crew members remain missing and are presumed dead.

Damage to the USS Greeneville has been estimated at $2 million, according to Navy officials. They said that there was no structural damage to the USS Greeneville.

Teams will have to replace some of the exterior coating on Greeneville's hull. Officials said that it will take several weeks to complete that work.

"The submarine's rudder was scarred, and some bolts designed to absorb shock in the rudder assembly performed as designed and required replacement," according to a statement by the Navy.

Waddle's wife and father spoke with ABC's Charlie Gibson on Good Morning America Friday.

"His heart is breaking," Jill Waddle said about her husband. "He feels terrible, great remorse for what has happened. And also feels that it's something that he will never get over.?

She also acknowledged that his Navy career is likely over, something Cmdr. Waddle first admitted in Time Magazine.

"I think his career in the Navy is over. I know he would like to stay with the Navy, but I think he knows it's over."

• Click here for a verbatim transcript of that discussion

Previous Stories:

• March 9, 2001: Waddle Apologizes To Families
• March 8, 2001: Waddle's Attorney Begins Cross-Examination
• March 7, 2001: Attorney: Waddle Will Not Testify
• March 6, 2001: Cheap Tickets Hits 10 Million Online Subscribers
• March 6, 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 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: Sub Commander Reassigned As Search Continues
• February 11, 2001: Sub Collided During Emergency Maneuver