Posted on 01/16/2018 4:51:31 PM PST by LadyBuzz
This post has been updated to correct the name of the former commander of USS John S. McCain (DDG-56). The correct name is Cmdr. Alfredo J. Sanchez. This post has also been updated with a statement from the service.
The commanders of the two guided-missile destroyers that were involved in fatal collisions with merchant ships in 2017 will face military criminal charges that include charges of dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel and negligent homicide, after the two incidents that resulted in the death of 17 sailors total, USNI News has learned.
Cmdr. Bryce Benson, former commander of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), along with three Fitzgerald junior officers, face a mix charges that include dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel and negligent homicide related to the June 17 collision between the ship and ACX Crystal that resulted in the death of seven sailors, according to a statement from the U.S. Navy provided to USNI News.
Cmdr. Alfredo J. Sanchez, former commander of USS John S. McCain (DDG-56), faces similar dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel and negligent homicide charges for the Aug. 21 collision between the guided-missile destroyer and a chemical tanker off the coast of Singapore that resulted in the death of 10 sailors.
“The announcement of an Article 32 hearing and referral to a court-martial is not intended to and does not reflect a determination of guilt or innocence related to any offenses. All individuals alleged to have committed misconduct are entitled to a presumption of innocence,” the statement said. “Additional administrative actions are being conducted for members of both crews including non-judicial punishment for four Fitzgerald and four John S. McCain crewmembers.”
A chief petty officer also faces a dereliction of duty charge that has already been preferred related to the McCain incident.
The charges are part of accountability actions recommended by an independent investigation tasked with reviewing further disciplinary actions by Navy leadership.
The two commanders are expected to fall on their swords. A nod to naval tradition. However what really occurred on those bridges, the failure of all those “state of the art” navigation systems, alarms, poor seamanship etc will never be made public.
As a skeptic to the survivability of surface ships in the modern technological era, how are the defensive weapons supposed to work if simple anti collision devices failed.
That’ll ruin a career.
Imprisoning these ship’s captains is a bad idea.
“Imprisoning these ship’s captains is a bad idea.”
I agree, let’s keel haul the negligent bastards and be done with it!!
Imprisoning these ship’s captains is a bad idea.
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With great power comes great responsibility. Sailors were killed because the Captain didn’t have a squared away ship. He deserves to do time in Leavenworth.
“He deserves to do time in Leavenworth.”
Portsmouth naval prison.
I had 19 months on an LST that,if it wasn’t in Vietnam,was often in high traffic areas around Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore. State of the art for us ended with a 50’s vintage radar. I probably stood 50-60 watches where I was continually racing from port to starboard wings of the bridge shooting bearings on ships. When relieved after four hours, I was exhausted. The captains standing orders could be summarized as directing us to maneuver the ship into safe waters well before extremis.
I was not aware that "Cmdr." was a naval rank.
I'm used to O-5 Commander as "CDR"
I know they renamed O-7, Commodore, as Rear Admiral (lower half) or "RDML"
What is a "Cmdr."? I suspect that the corrected name has an incorrect title.
If the Navy sent untrained Officers out to ships, than whoever made the decision to do that needs to be brought up for investigation.
Even if it’s Obama.
If you send out untrained Ensigns on watch, then you’re just asking for trouble.
The military runs on discipline.
The Enlisted are expected to obey the orders of their Officers.
When their Officer is an untrained Officer, then the ship is going to have troubles. The Officer May be in way over his/her head, but the Enlisted are supposed to follow the orders. Even stupid orders.
Who the hell in the Navy wearing stars couldn’t see this coming?
Sending untrained Officers out to ships at sea.
Typo, should be CDR
“””However what really occurred on those bridges, the failure of all those “state of the art” navigation systems, alarms, poor seamanship etc will never be made public.”””
The October 2017 report was thorough.
http://s3.amazonaws.com/CHINFO/USS+Fitzgerald+and+USS+John+S+McCain+Collision+Reports.pdf
Don’t agree with the ‘following stupid orders’ part completely, based on my experience.
We had a LCDR (aviator) Conning Officer on a carrier who routinely would confuse port and stbd orders to the helm. The helmsman would always say ‘Orders to the Helm?’ until the LCDR got it right. Finally the CO fired him and banned him from the bridge. I know this because when he got fired, I moved up from radar watch to Conn.
When these stories broke, I never considered that the young Officers came to the ships untrained.
Never.
Our Navy has been around for awhile.
You can do OJT (On the Job Training) for some military jobs and personnel, but new Officers?
Those ships have to be ready to fight when they leave the dock on patrol.
It’s like the Democrats were trying to destroy our Navy.
It's the civilian style of abbreviating rank.
Look in various style guides and you'll find it. For example, an Army Lieutenant General is abbreviated LTG in the military and government, but Lt. Gen. in the press.
How could you be charged for dereliction of duty when you're on board your ship?
I get it. Until a year ago, I abbreviated "POTUS" as "POS" - civilian style.
Apply the principle to Army/Marine Colonels as well, and the Armed Forces will soon find no one willing to take the risk.
Portsmouth naval prison.
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I was in the army so I’m not sure. Marines and sailors don’t go to Leavenworth?
Portsmouth naval prison closed in 1974.
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