Posted on 08/22/2017 7:08:35 AM PDT by Enlightened1
BEIJING (Reuters) - The U.S. navy's latest collision at sea, the fourth in its Pacific fleet this year, shows it is becoming an increasing risk to shipping in Asia despite its claims of helping to protect freedom of navigation, an official Chinese newspaper said.
The USS John S. McCain and the tanker Alnic MC collided while the guided-missile vessel was nearing Singapore on Monday. The collision tore a hole in the warship's port side at the waterline, flooding compartments that included a crew sleeping area. Ten sailors are missing.
The collision - the fourth major accident in the U.S. Pacific fleet this year - prompted a fleet-wide investigation and plans for temporary halts in operations to focus on safety.
The state-run China Daily said in an editorial on Tuesday that people will wonder why such a sophisticated navy keeps having these problems.
"The investigations into the latest collision will take time to reach their conclusions, but there is no denying the fact that the increased activities by U.S. warships in Asia-Pacific since Washington initiated its rebalancing to the region are making them a growing risk to commercial shipping," it said.
China has been upset at U.S. freedom of navigation operations near Chinese controlled islands in the disputed South China Sea, where China has been reclaiming land, building air bases and increasing its military presence.
"While the U.S. Navy is becoming a dangerous obstacle in Asian waters, China has been making joint efforts with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to draw up a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea and it has boosted navigational safety by constructing five lighthouses on its islands," the China Daily said.
"Anyone should be able to tell who is to blame for militarizing the waters and posing a threat...
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
If it comes out that the Chinese have done this through electronic warfare or hacking of the naval navigation systems, then things will get ugly.
I didn't realize we had 4 U.S. Ships. That seems more than just coincidence.
Someone is hacking the ships navigation computers, the question isn’t who is doing the hacking, it is WHO gave them the access codes.
I smell an obama or clintonite.
Nothing to do with hacking, there are human eyes on lookout( at least 6 )most likly cause in all cases is a)lack of teamwork,b)confusion C) countermanding orders from the CO
Listen to this ....USS Porter collision,
https://soundcloud.com/the-virginian-pilot/audio-from-the-guided-missile-destroyer-porters-collision-in-the-strait-of-hormuz
When Chinese ships have problems at sea, they have the courtesy to sink so as to not pose a hazard to navigation
China as always been good at trolling.
Nice PsyOps move on the part of the Chinese. Cause the accident through meaconing and then blame the victim.
Some time sailing in a large regatta of small boats would sort out a lot of this nonsense. But that requires putting time and money on real seamanship instead of solving the social ills of the day. I am just guessing that the families of dead sailors and the taxpayers whose treasure was wasted by this kind of incompetence feel that their civil rights have been violated.
Three involved ship collisions, one was a grounding that damaged propulsion.
Navigation computers that Obama bought from China ,LOL
Actually it was the CO that was second guessing the OOD, if he had a question of his ability to con the ship the CO should have said, “You are relived, I have the con” end of situation.
And then the OOD was second guessing the CO.
Frankly I would have to agree. We have a Navy that can’t post a darn shift of lookouts? We’re they all on you tube while on duty? Critical tasks require focus.
I would like the duty roster for these incidences #DistractedDriver
Looks like all US Navy sailors at sea are in line for hazardous duty pay, especially those on a boat called McCain.
Having actually used radar while on gunboats in Nam I learned the limitations of the technology. I know it’s improved but it becomes less effective as distance closes. It can catch wave tops and you get all sorts of reflections and clutter.
Nothing replaces the Mark I Eyeball. No one was watching. It’s that simple. Hacking is just an excuse. Political correctness and a careerist mentality is the cause.
Obama’s/Dems’ war on the US military has borne fruit. Navy crews are so short and overworked that collisions are inevitable.
In Vietnam, I was an RD2 on a PCF, mostly coastal, but a few excursions up rivers and canals.
You’re correct, the sea return from waves and other stuff does limit your ability to see stuff within a mile or so, but I don’t think this is the case here.
About 18 months ago (it may have been longer) we lost a drone to Iran. The Iranians aimed several strong GPS signals at the drone to make it think it was somewhere it was not. The drone went into return home mode and landed in Iran, where the fake GPS told it was home. Result was Iran captured our drone.
I personally believe a similar scenario was inflicted on the captured Navy patrol boat and crew in the Persian Gulf. And I would not be surprised to find out that the 2 recent ship collisions were similarly inspired by fake navigation signals.
Possibly. But it’s a poor seaman who doesn’t use his eyeballs. Unless it was pitch black out there’s no excuse for not seeing a huge cargo ship.
Precisely!!
They do currently have the world's largest and most powerful operational navy.
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