MYSTERY HIT
US nuclear submarine smashes into mystery underwater object in South China Sea leaving several sailors injured
A NUCLEAR-powered submarine struck an underwater object in the South China Sea, the US Navy has revealed.
The USS Connecticut fast-attack submarine was heading to Guam through the disputed area at the time of the mystery collision.
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The incident comes amid mounting tensions over Taiwan after flew 129 warplanes close to Taiwan over three days - a record number of incursions.
It has emerged that US troops have been reportedly working secretly with the island's military as fears mount Beijing could soon attempt and invasion.
The Navy confirmed sailors were injured in the collision but none were life threatening and the sub is safe.
In recent days have been shadowing aircraft carriers from the US and UK while traveling through the South China Sea.
China is known to possess a fleet of underwater drones with one on a covert found by Indonesian fishermen at the end of last year.
The service itself wouldn't reveal any detail about the object that the USS Connecticut struck.
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But its impact ruled that it hit any land in the path of the vessel, an unnamed official told .
China claims vast swathes of the South China Sea as is territory, including two island chains, the Paracels and the Spratlys, which are thought to be abundant in natural resources.
Beijing has engaged in a massive military build-up in the area, creating a network of artificial islands, which it uses to assert its territorial claim.
In response, America has been joined by Australia, the UK and France in sailing warships through it to assert freedom of navigation
Two crew members of the USS Connecticut's crew suffered moderate bumps, bruises and lacerations.
None of the 140 crew - made up of 14 officers and 126 enlisted sailors - required to be evacuated.
UNKNOWN OBJECT
It added that the integrity of the nuclear-propelled ship and its operational capacity weren’t compromised as a probe has been launched by the US Pacific Fleet and the Naval Safety Center.
“The submarine remains in a safe and stable condition,” the Navy stated.
“USS Connecticut’s nuclear propulsion plant and spaces were not affected and remain fully operational.
“The extent of damage to the remainder of the submarine is being assessed.”
Navy Times said it held off reporting on the submarine incident until USS Connecticut and its sailors were safely in Guam’s port.
Officials say preliminary information on what happened during the mishap did not indicate anything hostile or suggest the incident involved another ship, it reports.
The sub, which is armed with Tomahawk missiles, MK48 torpedoes, eight torpedo tubes, left Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, Washington, for deployment in May.
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As tensions rise over Taiwan, concern has been raised that China has prepared for a high-tech war while the US has been bogged down in the Middle East.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to reunify it with the mainland, by force if necessary.
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