I have a huge amount of respect for Travis McGee (and you too, gaijin) but in light of information coming out, regarding the timing, I don’t think there is any hostile intent. I think it was caused by human factors.
But, as I have said on this specific issue, I reserve the right to change my mind as more information is available. At this time, I don’t think it was hostile intent.
Why the hairpin U-turn? How could they not have known the Fitzgerald was there?
Last I heard, the US Navy is sticking with the collision time around 2:25am local.
Until the Navy presents their info showing differently, I'll keep believing the Navy's version.
Too many different people on the Fitzgerald would have had to be dead asleep to just cruise into a huge cargo vessel. There are two officers and 8-10 enlisted on the bridge; 8-10 enlisted in CIC, four visual lookouts on a clear night. At least three of the lookouts (fore, aft, and starboard) would have been screaming bloody murder through their sound-powered phones as that mountainous cargo ship bore down on the destroyer. The OOD would have had a mutiny on the bridge if he had ignored all the input.
They say you never have to attribute hostile intent when simple stupidity will do.