A Nuclear Submarine in India Was Almost Sunk Because Someone Left the Hatch Open – Going to sea has never been without risks. For those in military uniform the dangers are compounded, and it has always taken a special breed of men and women willing to head out over the horizon. Countless sailors have lost their lives due to the dangers of the sea – but in a few cases, it was due to stupid mistakes.
This has included collisions and some dozen U.S. Navy ships have been seriously damaged due to such accidents. USS Enterprise (CVN-65) suffered serious damage when she struck a portion of the 13-mile-long Bishop Rock that damaged its hull in November 1985.
Other times it is simply the case of poor planning or design and as a result some vessels barely made it out to sea on their maiden voyages. That was certainly the case with the Vasa, described as the most high-tech warship when it was built in the 17th century. The Swedish warship sank within just twenty minutes of setting sail after a gust of wind capsized the majestic vessel – likely due to the heavy cannons on her gun deck.