DAMAED SHIP'S SKIPPER LOSES COMMAND

San Diego Union...15 November 1978

The skipper of a San diego based warship involved in an accident in Japan, has
been relieved of his command and assigned temporary duty here pending disciplinary
action recommended against him, the Navy said last night.
That recommendation is under review, the Navy said.
Captain S. S. Pearlman, described as a brilliant naval officer, was relieved of
command Saturday of the guided missile cruiser Leahy, while the ship was in Yokosuka
Japan.
Pearlman was scheduled to be relieved of command of the Leahy in January, but was 
relieved early because of the accident on Sept. 21 when the Leahy struck a breakwater
in Tokyo Bay losing its sonar dome and tearing holes in the ships side, the spokesman 
said.
At the time of the incident, military spokesman were quoted by newsmen in Japan, as 
saying that the Leahy only suffered damage to a fuel tank resulting in a small oil 
leakage in the bay.
But a Japanese news agency, quoting sources, reported November 8 that the 7,800-ton 
cruiser had lost secret navigation and sounding equipment valued at $10.5 million.
The agency said total damage, including costs of repairs, was nearly $16 million.
A spokesman for the Pacific Fleet, responding to a query, said damage to the ship,
including replacement of the lost sonar dome and associated equipment, was estimated
at $2.5 million. Both propellors also had to replaced, he said.
He said the lost equipment was not classified and was smashed so badly during the
impact of the ship on the rocks that it had no military value and was not worth
salvaging.
He said an extensive investigation of the ship's internal spaces and the hull where
it was torn showed no oil leakage.
He said one of the spaces that had been flooded when the hull was torn was used for 
storage and the other space was empty.
The Leahy was repaired in the Yokosuka Naval Shipyard, amajor anchorage for the 7th 
Fleet. The The spokesman said the Leahy, now on a six-month deployment with the 7th 
Fleet, has returned to operational duty and will not return to San Diego short of
her regularly assigned tour to the Western Pacific.
The spokesman said ship traffic in Tokyo Bay is extremely heavy and ships have to 
weave their way into port and sometimes are forced to come to dead stops in the water
to avoid collisions.
The spokesman said Pearlman, who lives in Coronado, and two other officers aboard the 
ship have been recommended for punishment under Article 15 of the Uniform Code Of
Military Justice.
Under that article, an officer can be admonished, receive a letter of reprimand or
receive other punishment.
The accused person can refuse the punishment and demand a general court-martial.
Pearlman assumed command of the Leahy Oct. 22, 1976. Before going to the Leahy,
Pearlman, who is an expert in surface warfare and tactical data systems, was sent to
the first class of the chief of naval operation's ship material readiness school in
Idaho Falls, Idaho.
While serving as inspector general of the Alantic Fleet, he earned a reputation as an 
expert in damage control in ships.

END.....