The United States submarine that sank a Japanese trawler off Pearl Harbour was only at sea on the day of the accident so it could take civilian visitors for a cruise, says the lawyer for the sub's commander.
"It is doubtful that the Greeneville would have even been out at sea that day if it wasn't taking the civilians out, because the training that had been planned was cancelled," said Charles Gittins.
The lawyer insisted that the 16 guests, who were in the control room at the time of the accident, had very little impact on the crew's operation.
ABC Television said the accident that left nine Japanese missing and presumed dead resulted from a "long list of mistakes, miscalculations and horrible bad luck."
ABC said the Navy's own investigators had concluded that the civilians "did get in the way, interfering with crucial communications in the control room."
Submarine was just cruising
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