The State - News from May 26, 1989

The Navy is investigating the brief grounding of a nuclear-powered attack submarine that apparently hit a reef off the coast of San Diego, officials said. No one was hurt in the incident, which occurred shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday while the submarine, the San Diego-based Gurnard, was carrying out routine operations, according to Lt. Sonja Hedley, a Navy spokeswoman. The submarine apparently was undamaged, but was being closely inspected in port, Hedley said. She termed the incident “minor” and said it was “more of a bumping than a grounding.” The 292-foot Gurnard, which carries a crew of 129 enlisted men and 15 officers, immediately continued on its way after the incident and needed no assistance, she said. It returned to port in San Diego about four hours later, she said.