Ehime Maru Captain Describes Collision

Sub Commander Speaks To Reporters

The captain of a Japanese trawler struck by a U.S. submarine began his testimony Wednesday at a Navy hearing in Hawaii. The court's presiding officer thanked Hisao Onishi for coming to Pearl Harbor, and told him that his testimony is important in understanding the tragedy. USS Greeneville tragedy

Watch Cmdr. Scott Waddle's Statement To Reporters
Court Of Inquiry Opening Remarks
What Is A Court Of Inquiry?
Major Figures In Court Of Inquiry
Unofficial Transcripts

Commissioned: Feb. 16, 1996

Los Angeles-class attack nuclear submarine

Homeported in Pearl Harbor in March 1997

Max crew: 130

Specs:

499 tons

190.8 feet long

30.5 feet wide

Max crew: 76

Onishi described the events that led up to the collision between his vessel and the USS Greeneville, which killed nine Japanese men and boys. Speaking through an interpreter, Onishi said that he heard a "terrible metal hitting sound." The ship suddenly lifted up, Onishi said, then quickly sank into the water. "I was not even able to drop the liferafts," Onishi said. "I was thrown out off the ship into the water by the waves ... and I was pushed away a great distance from the ship at once." He said that crewmen and training students gathered on the deck were yelling to make sure everyone was wearing a life preserver. But he said that "no one was in a state" to respond. Onishi also said that he was unable to find anyone while searching for survivors. At that point in his testimony, relatives of the nine victims began sobbing. Still unsure how many crew members were unaccounted for, Onishi said that he looked to the submarine for help. But he said that the sub only dropped its ladder. "We were hoping they would lower their inflatable rubbber boat, but they were just watching us," Onishi calmly said.

After Onishi's testimony, he and former Greeneville skipper, Cmdr. Scott Waddle (pictured, right), went into a private room where Waddle apologized and accepted responsibility for the collision. Waddle told Onishi that he wants to go to Japan to meet the rest of the families. Onishi said that he understood and thanked Waddle for the apology. Earlier in the day, on his way into court, Waddle made a rare statement before TV cameras. He thanked his crew members for testifying truthfully. "They made me very proud," Waddle said. "These gentlemen told the truth and I think in the end will help achieve that objective."

Click here for the full text of Waddle's address to the media.

Lt. Keith Sloan, the Greeneville's navigator and operations officer and the sub's senior watch officer, was the first sub crew member to take the stand Tuesday. Sloan testified that he was under the impression that the sub was supposed to conduct an emergency surfacing drill during its four-hour voyage which ended with the collision. But he said that as the sub got underway that morning from Pearl Harbor, Waddle told him that he would not conduct such a drill that day. However, Sloan said that Waddle later decided to perform the drill and speculated that the civilian visitors may have talked him into it. He added that the sub's control room was so full of civilians that it was difficult to see what was going on. Previous Stories: