Virginia
Navy Virginia-Class Submarine Was 'Netted' By a Norwegian Fishermen
What You Need to Know: Norwegian fishermen recently snagged an unusual “catch of the day”: the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine, USS Virginia. While halibut fishing, the Øygutt’s fishing net became entangled with the submarine’s propeller, dragging it over two nautical miles before finally detaching.
-This unique incident isn’t the first of its kind. A tragic 1999 event saw a British submarine accidentally snag a fishing vessel, leading to the vessel’s sinking and the loss of four crew members.
-These close calls underscore the dangers of crowded seas and the potential for deadly submarine-fishing vessel interactions.
Norwegian Fishermen Accidentally Snag U.S. Submarine Near Barents Sea
Many an angler has told of the big one that “got away,” but a group of Norwegian fishermen has a “whale of a tale” to tell to top all others. And a very big one did get away because it was nuclear-powered and filled with U.S. Navy sailors.
On Wednesday the fishermen were sailing for halibut near where the Barents and Norwegian Seas meet, but instead netted the U.S. Navy’s cruise missile attack submarine USS Virginia (SSN-774).
“We had just emptied the nets and put them out again, and [were] on our way back to shore at Sommarøya when we were called by the Coast Guard on channel 16 on the VHF-radio,” Harald Engen, the 22-year-old captain of the Øygutt, a 10 meter-long fishing vessel, told NRK Troms, per The Barents Observer.
It was truly the catch of the day, or perhaps for Engen a catch of a lifetime. It wasn’t an oversized halibut, but rather the submarine, which was on the surface when its propeller snagged the net, dragging it more than two nautical miles before it was finally cut off.
The crew of the Øygutt is out a net, yet, they can say a truly big one got away!
“I know about other vessels that have sailed over fishing nets, but no one out here has ever heard about a submarine doing so,” added Engen.
It Could Have Turned Tragic – A Lesson From History
The waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas are now increasingly frequented by NATO and Russian warships, and this isn’t likely the first time a military vessel has snagged a net in the area – and most certainly won’t be the last.
The oceans may be vast, but they’re heavily traveled. Subs and nets don’t mix.
In November 1999, the UK trawler Antares was off the coast of the Isle of Arran when she floundered and sank after her trawl line was snagged by the Royal Navy’s Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered fleet attack submarine HMS Trenchant. The submarine had been engaged in a training exercise with a student in command, but under the supervision of a commanding officer.
In the early morning hours of November 22, 1999, a pair of vessels was detected on the surface by the sub’s sonar – in fact, there were three vessels. The submarine turned to avoid contact, but the crew soon heard a loud bang followed by scraping noises. After returning to periscope depth, two fishing vessels were spotted, and neither seemed to be in any distress. Unknown to the crew of HMS Trenchant at the time, it had snagged the trawl line from Antares.
Even after it was determined that the submarine had collided with a net, it was assumed to be from one of the trawlers spotted on the surface. Only later after the submarine returned to port and the damage became apparent – including to the sonar dome – was it determined that something far more serious had occurred. The Royal Navy’s submarine had snagged a fishing net, which was still attached to the fishing boat causing it to capsize. The trawler was then dragged along the surface before the wires snapped.
Antares sank to the seabed with all four of her crewmen on board. Even worse was the fact that any rescue operation wasn’t launched until eight hours after the incident occurred. That led to changes in how Royal Navy submarines operate near fishing waters – but it remains a reminder that in a battle between a fishing boat and a submarine, the fishermen should be lucky if the big one gets away or else they could be the catch of the day.
Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image Credit: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock.
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West Virginia head coach Ross Hodge has goals for his first season in Morgantown.
Hodge appeared on Jon Rothstein’s podcast and was asked what he hopes to accomplish in his first year leading the Mountaineers basketball program.
“I obviously want to get back to the NCAA tournament, you know, one. I mean, that’s the ultimate goal. I mean, the ultimate goal would be, you know, to win a national championship,” he said. “I think that’s what everybody wants to do. And obviously, it’s not easy to do, but that’s what we want to do here.”
The Mountaineers narrowly missed the field last season at 19-13, being the first team left out but then the program endured its fourth coaching change since June of 2023. That meant Hodge inherited a program that needed to be completely rebuilt with no returning players or coaches from a season ago.
But in order to potentially make the NCAA Tournament, the focus will be on putting together a team that’s not only connected and tough but plays for each other.
Hodge has been doing just that with 10 roster additions to date with eight of those coming from the transfer portal, as he looks to jumpstart what his team can do in year one.
“In this time period it does give you the opportunity to put a roster together quicker than you would if the portal wasn’t a thing,” he said. “And kind of shape a roster that you believe in. And I feel good about what we’ve been able to get so far and just got to finish it strong here.”
Those players will start arriving on campus soon to start that process and Hodge is excited for the challenge.
“And the journey begins,” he said.
By the time the final out is logged in the Women’s College World Series on Monday, the 2024 WCWS championship series will be set.
And, win or lose, Mike White, Reese Atwood and Texas softball will have a say in who makes the best-of-three series.
REQUIRED READING: Watch Texas softball vs. Stanford live with Fubo (free trial)
The Longhorns to this point have looked every bit the part of the No. 1 national seed, giving up zero runs through two games in Oklahoma City. They got started with a 4-0 victory over Stanford, the No. 8 national seed, led by pitching phenom NiJaree Canady. They then turned around and thrashed No. 4 national seed Florida 10-0 in five innings. Perhaps more impressively, they allowed just one hit per game in those two victories.
Now Texas will look for one more victory to cement its spot in the WCWS championship series, again against Canady and the Cardinal. Stanford rebounded nicely from its opening loss to the Longhorns, downing Oklahoma State 8-0 in six innings on Friday and UCLA 3-1 on Sunday to get another crack at the Longhorns.
Should Stanford manage to get one back vs. UT, it will need another victory against the Longhorns to secure a spot in the championship series. Texas, meanwhile, needs just one win.
REQUIRED READING: Inside WCWS reunion of OU softball star Tiare Jennings, UCLA’s Maya Brady
With that, here’s how to watch Texas vs. Stanford in the WCWS semis, including time, TV and streaming info and more:
What channel is Texas vs Stanford softball on today?
Texas’ game vs. Stanford will air on ESPN. Should the Cardinal down the Longhorns, the winner-take-all game between the two will air on the same channel.
Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app, ESPN+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Texas vs Stanford softball start time
- Date: Monday, June 3
- Time: 6 p.m. CT
First pitch for Texas and Stanford’s first game of the day is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. If Texas loses the first game, the second will be scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
REQUIRED READING: Can pro softball learn from WNBA? How WCWS stars could grow Caitlin Clark-level success
Texas softball schedule 2024
Below is Texas’ postseason schedule. For the Longhorns’ full 2024 college softball schedule, click here.
Texas Regional
- Friday, May 17: Texas 5, Siena 0
- Saturday, May 18: Texas 14, Northwestern 2 (five innings)
- Sunday, May 19: Texas 7, Northwestern 0
Texas Super Regional
- Friday, May 24: Texas A&M 6, Texas 5
- Saturday, May 25: Texas 9, Texas A&M 8
- Sunday, May 26: Texas 6, Texas A&M 5
Women’s College World Series
- Thursday, May 30: Texas 4, Stanford 0
- Saturday, June 1: Texas 10, Florida 0 (five innings)
- Monday, June 3: Texas vs. Stanford
- Monday, June 3*: Texas vs. Stanford
* If necessary
Stanford softball schedule 2024
Below is Stanford’s postseason schedule. For the Cardinal’s full 2024 college softball schedule, click here.
Stanford Regional
- Friday, May 17: Stanford 8, Saint Mary’s 6
- Saturday, May 18: Stanford 2, Mississippi State 1
- Sunday, May 19: Cal State Fullerton 8, Stanford 1
- Sunday, May 19: Stanford 4, Cal State Fullerton 2
Stanford Super Regional
- Friday, May 24: LSU 11, Stanford 1 (five innings)
- Saturday, May 25: Stanford 3, LSU 0
- Sunday, May 26: Stanford 8, LSU 0 (six innings)
Women’s College World Series
- Thursday, May 30: Texas 4, Stanford 0
- Friday, May 31: Stanford 9, Oklahoma State 0 (six innings)
- Sunday, June 2: Stanford 3, UCLA 1
- Monday, June 3: Stanford vs. Texas
- Monday, June 3*: Stanford vs. Texas
* If necessary
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