--- title: "US Nuclear Sub Damaged in Collision With “Unknown Object”" description: "Unknown Object According to a statement by the US Navy, the nuclear submarine USS Connecticut sustained damage and several injuries after hitting an “unknown object” in the South China Sea, CBS News reports. The submarine is now making its way to Guam to assess the damage. It’s a hair-raising incident given the location. China, the […]" date: "2021-10-08" modified: "2021-10-08" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nuclear-sub-damaged-unknown-object" categories: - "Energy" - "Nuclear Fusion" - "Renewable Energy" - "Science & Energy" tags: - "china" - "nuclear submarine" - "the digest" - "US Navy" --- # US Nuclear Sub Damaged in Collision With “Unknown Object” ![According to the US Navy, a nuclear submarine sustained damage and several injuries after hitting an "unknown object" in the South China Sea.]() *\Image: Department of Defense/Futurism\* ## Unknown Object According to a statement by the US Navy, the nuclear submarine USS Connecticut sustained damage and several injuries after colliding with an "unknown object" in the South China Sea, [*CBS News* reports](). The submarine is now making its way to Guam to assess the damage. It's a hair-raising incident given the location. China, the US, and its allies including the UK have [repeatedly made competing territorial claims]() in the area — making even the possibility of outright conflict alarming. ## Grave Concerns Chinese state-owned newspaper [*Global Times* quoted]() a Foreign Ministry official who voiced "grave concerns" over the collision. Fortunately, it sounds like it wasn't much of a hit. Two crew members sustained "moderate" injuries, while others got away with only minor bumps and bruises, according to *CBS*. The Connecticut, a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, hit the mysterious object on October 2 "while operating in international waters in the Indo-Pacific region." The Navy emphasized that the vessel "remains in a safe and stable condition" and that its nuclear-powered propulsion and related systems "were not affected and remain fully operational." ## Stirring Up Trouble China wasn't impressed. "I want to stress that the root cause of the incident, which also poses a serious threat and significant risks to regional peace and stability, is the US' constant stirring up of trouble in the South China Sea over a long period of time," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in a statement Friday, as quoted by the *Global Times*. The region is a serious powderkeg right now. The US and Britain recently [agreed to supply]() nuclear-powered submarines to Australia's military, prompting yet more backlash from China. China also ordered the US to cut off military ties with Taiwan today, moves that have officials worried of an [impending military grab](). **READ MORE:** [U.S. nuclear submarine USS Connecticut damaged in underwater collision with unknown "object" in South China Sea]() \[*CBS News*\] **More on the Navy:** *[Sailor Fails Navy SEAL Test, Sets Fire to Billion Dollar Assault Ship]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()