Summary and Key Points: In 2006, two sailors tragically died after being washed off the deck of the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul submarine while it was navigating rough seas near Plymouth Sound.

-The sailors were unable to swim clear due to their safety harnesses.

-The submarine, part of the Los Angeles-class and launched in 1983, was the first American sub equipped with Tomahawk missiles for strikes during the Gulf War.

-Following the incident, a 2007 report cited "human failure" as the cause.

-The submarine was retired in 2007, and parts of it will be displayed at the Minnesota Military Museum beginning in 2025.

USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul Incident: Human Error Leads to Sailors' Deaths

American-made submarines feature some of the most cutting-edge systems available across the globe. However advanced these vessels may be, they are certainly not immune to freak accidents.

Back in 2006, two sailors were tragically washed off the deck of the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul and succumbed to their injuries. The fast-attack submarine was easing out of the largest naval base in Western Europe when the mishap occurred. As the boat rounded the breakwater along the coast into the Plymouth Sound, brutal winds and massive swells caused the submarine to rock back and forth violently.

According to reports, Senior Chief Thomas Higgens and Petty Officer 2nd Class Holtz were hooked to the boat via safety harnesses, which made it impossible for the two men to swim clear and potentially be picked up by rescuers. The two men were likely unable to grab onto the violently bobbing and slippery deck. Two other sailors were also positioned on deck when this incident occurred. However, both survived since one was not attached to the submarine via a safety harness and the other’s line was much looser, so he was able to get out and swim away from the ship.

Following this tragic incident, authorities noted that the two survivors would probably not have been rescued as quickly if it wasn’t for the higher level of security that was escorting the submarine.

As explained by former British submariner Lt. Commander Charles Hattersley, “A submarine is designed to travel at speed underwater. When it’s on the surface it’s a bit of a pig. The most dangerous place to be on a submarine is on the deck. It’s like trying to balance on a whale.” Following the release of a 2007 report made public by a Freedom of Information request, “human failure” was listed as the cause of the incident. The report also noted that the outcome could have been “much more catastrophic.”

USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul Submarine

The USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (SSN-708) submarine was constructed as part of the Navy’s Los Angeles-class during the Cold War. Representing the first vessel to be named in honor of the Twin Cities, she was launched in 1983 and commissioned one year later. The Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics built the submarine from the ground up. Notably, Minneapolis-Saint Paul was the first American sub equipped to carry Tomahawk missiles specifically designated for use in strikes against Iraq during the Gulf War. The fast-attack ship also featured other armaments, including UGM-84 Harpoon submarine-launched anti-ship missiles and four torpedo tubes for Mk 48 torpedoes. Like its Los Angeles-class sister ships, Minneapolis-Saint Paul could travel at speeds in excess of 25 knots.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul was relegated to retirement in 2007 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. Beginning in 2025, the ship’s sail and rudder will be displayed for the public at the Minnesota Military Museum.

About the Author: Maya Carlin 

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. 

This has been updated since publication.