Domestic Stories

MARGEN 010-05 : RETURN OF THE SUBMARINES TO SEA

"MARGEN  010-05   "
"NDHQ CMS OTTAWA//CMS//"
"MARGEN"

"SUBJECT:RETURN OF THE SUBMARINES TO SEA

1.    I HAVE REVIEWED THE CONTENTS OF THE REPORT DELIVERED BY THE CHICOUTIMI BOARD OF INQUIRY.  I RECOGNIZE THE BOARD ADDRESSED EACH OF THE AREAS THAT I REQUESTED TO BE EXAMINED IN THE ORIGINAL TERMS OF REFERENCE AND I COMMEND THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE WORK THEY DID IN PREPARING AN EXTENSIVE REPORT ON WHAT WAS A COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT MATTER.  HOWEVER, I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE NEED EXISTS TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO DECISIONS MADE AND ACTIONS TAKEN IN RESPECT OF MAKING REPAIRS TO THE UPPER LID VENT.  WHILE THE BOARD EXAMINED THIS ISSUE, I REQUIRE GREATER CLARITY AND CONTEXT BEFORE I CAN CONCLUDE MY REVIEW OF THE BOI. 

2.    THE BOARD WILL, THEREFORE, RECONVENE AND PREPARE A SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT THAT WILL PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE AND IN-DEPTH ACCOUNT OF THE DECISIONS AND ACTIONS TAKEN IN RESPECT OF THE REPAIR OF THE UPPER LID VENT, AND THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THESE DECISIONS AND ACTIONS WERE TAKEN.  

3.    THE ORIGINAL BOARD FINDINGS ARE STILL UNDER MY REVIEW.  I CANNOT COMPLETE MY REVIEW DUTIES UNTIL I HAVE RECEIVED THE SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT. 

4.      SUBMARINE OPERATIONS WILL RESUME ONLY AFTER BOARD HAS MORE FULLY RUN ITS COURSE.  

5.    THIS WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR ALONGSIDE CREWS WHO NATURALLY WANT TO RETURN TO OPERATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AT THIS STAGE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SAY WHEN THIS WILL OCCUR.  THERE IS HOWEVER A REQUIREMENT TO ENSURE ALL ELEMENTS OF THIS INCIDENT ARE EXAMINED FULLY AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS AGREED TO BY THE CANADIAN FORCES CHAIN OF COMMAND BEFORE THE DECISION TO RETURN OUR SUBMARINES BACK TO SEA IS TAKEN.

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