Posted on 06/23/2017 9:44:27 AM PDT by Mariner
impossible - the DDG was broadsided amidships by the freighter
unless our destroyers have figured out how to run 30 knots sideways it could not have happened.
unless of course the DDG was dead in the water and blind from an EMP.
Far too many former Navy brass are making a big deal about a container ship being on autopilot, when the fact is that most ships are on autopilot.
From the charts I have seen the Fitzgerald crossed in front of the Crystal just prior to 16:30 UTC. The Fitzgerald acted like a tug pushing on the bow of the Crystal turning the Crystal 90 degrees in short order.
So was the Fitzgerald on autopilot and there was nobody at the helm to shut down the Fitzgerald’s engines?
Also check out post #73
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3563129/posts
I understand the Commander of the ship has a sleeping cabin immediately next to the bridge and that is where the Commander is supposed to sleep while the ship is at sea.
I understand the Commander was sleeping in his main cabin that is used when the ship is not at sea.
“””A radar malfunction at 2:30 AM makes it all credible.”””
That is probably true that the radar malfunctioned when the container ship hit the Fitzgerald. (sarc)
Oh, so a huge, lumbering freighter set out to purposely ram a smaller, nimble US warship laden with radars......and succeeded!! This theory is ridiculous on about 5 different levels.
Unlike you, my opinion is informed by years at sea with the US Navy. And it’s echoed by most, if not all sailors on this forum.
“Even a fool knows this DDG saw the freighter coming and was capable of avoiding her.”
Is absolutely correct.
The issue with the time of the collision really needs to be cleared up, because it’s really messing with some interpretations of events.
The 1.30am collision time now reported by the Japanese coastguard makes way more sense for the Crystal’s path.
“a freighter on autopolot does not make TWO 180 degree turns in the hour leading up to the collision”
Neither did this one.
A freighter in the open ocean could fake a medical distress and lure a DDG in close. They could communicate on VHF channel 13 and signal a may day. Once the DDG got to within 500 yards then the freighter could “punch it”. Especially if the DDG was launching small craft. Possible.
“unless of course the DDG was dead in the water and blind from an EMP”
Any EMP capable of both disabling and blinding a USN DDG would have done the same to all ships in the vicinity.
The DDG is hardened against EMP by design. They are designed to fight in a nuclear environment.
And the power plant is BELOW THE WATERLINE.
Not plausible.
“””unless of course the DDG was dead in the water”””
Does not appear to be the case the DDG was dead in the water. When the collision occurred the Fitzgerald acted like a tug pushing on the bow of the Crystal. Thus the immediate 90 degree turn by the Crystal.
that is also what I read.
no way was this anything but a accident compounded by carelessness.
These theories are getting better by the minute. I’m going to have to look up 0-60 times for huge ocean going freighters now. Anyone have the latest version of “Freighter and Skipper” magazine?
I agree!
“”...the helmsman...probably did not know their left from their right.”\
*************************************************************
Perhaps the steering commands were issued in cursive?
“no way was this anything but a accident compounded by carelessness”
Yet there are dozens on this forum, ostensibly some of the most educated and aware of our citizenry, who insist it was an Islamic or NORK or Chinese attack on a USN DDG at sea.
AND, to boot, they actually believe the DDG was unable to avoid a freighter.
Laughable, at the very least.
“Even a fool knows this DDG saw the freighter coming and was capable of avoiding her.”
I agree with the second part of your statement, but the first I have a problem with. “We” don’t know anything about what the destroyer saw. “We” know the equipment on board was capable of “seeing” the approaching containership, but “we” have no evidence of such so “we” can only ass u me.
I appreciate your opinion bases on experience, but it is only that, an opinion. Bring proof.
Ship autopilot systems are at risk of hacking:
If students can do it, hostile nation-states can do it:
Check out post 49. Someone seriously postulated that the freighter just lured the Navy ship in close, and then hit the gas.
“””The issue with the time of the collision really needs to be cleared up, because it’s really messing with some interpretations of events.””
I believe the 1:30 time of collision is cleared up. I have seen several reports stating the US Navy is not going to disagree with the 1:30 time. It seems only those who have some sort of reason for messing with the interpretation of events are having problems accepting 1:30.
If one looks at the Crystal chart at 1:30 the Crystal makes a 90 degree turn. There is no way a container ship could make a 90 degree turn in that short a distance without having its bow pushed by a very powerful destroyer that had just crossed the container ship’s path and said destroyer was now impaled by the Crystal’s bulbous bow.
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