Posted on 06/26/2017 5:56:24 AM PDT by AU72
TOKYO, June 26 (Reuters) - A U.S. warship struck by a container vessel in Japanese waters failed to respond to warning signals or take evasive action before a collision that killed seven of its crew, according to a report of the incident by the Philippine cargo ship's captain.
Multiple U.S. and Japanese investigations are under way into how the guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald and the much larger ACX Crystal container ship collided in clear weather south of Tokyo Bay in the early hours of June 17
Those who died were in their berthing compartments, while the Fitzgerald's commander was injured in his cabin, suggesting that no alarm warning of an imminent collision was sounded.
So the Captain of the ship was a Commander. So too was the XO. How many other commanders, lieutenant commanders and lieutenants (O-3) were assigned to the ship? The news articles have made it sound as if there would have been only very junior people on the bridge and the only experienced resource to draw on would have been the captain. But I am wondering how many other career officers such as the lieutenant commanders would have been on the ship and if it would have been standard practice to have any of them on the bridge during the night (it would be great if Navy types could weigh in)
What a disgrace.
Both or a mass orgy with drugged crew with capt. sleeping it off. Why, what could be a better place to hold such a ship-wide event than in a crowded busy shipping lane?
Another take is that the radars and other forms of ranging did not work or were off-line for maintenance.
On ships of this type, the CO would be a CDR and the XO could be a CDR as well, but in the past could be a LCDR.
Could be different now...they might have a few more LCDR (O-4) than they did in the past.
Sailing vessels/platforms do NOT have the right of way in shipping lanes, despite the sometimes fatal misapprehension that they do. All sailing vessels are also required to observe and practice the rules of the road. Common sense often does not apply to recreational boaters of any stripe.
“””In the first detailed account from one of those directly involved, the cargo ship’s captain said the ACX Crystal had signalled with flashing lights after the Fitzgerald “suddenly” steamed on to a course to cross its path.”””
Not sure what to make of this. If accurate, I can't even bring myself to speculate what was going on aboard the Fitz. I'm at a loss for words here.
Deliberate?? Could be. It was the dead of night.
view short video for effect:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETrWMvicKps
Thanks for the ping, mad_as_he$$.
I hope it isn’t related to sex or drugs. The simple incompetence (as it appears to be) is terrible enough, but if the other things are involved, that is going to make my head explode.
My first thought is that is isn’t, because it is less likely than simple incompetence and human error.
The concept that two of the crew would have left the bridge to have a quickie in a nearby head is beyond belief and inconceivable to me. I will have to be convinced. But one has to admit, it is more possible than any kind of silly hacking theory.
And I have, over the course of my life, come to realize that sex can cause people to do things they never would otherwise do. People with positions of power, positions of high pay, positions of influence, with a lot going for them, have been bought low by the primitive sexual drive...so I don’t even rule that out.
But it is not at the top of my list of causes at this time.
“Will wait for our news.”
Early reports are error prone.
Update:
Early reports are full of slanted BS.
Those who died were in their berthing compartments, while the Fitzgerald's commander was injured in his cabin, suggesting that no alarm warning of an imminent collision was sounded. (My emphasis.)
This quote is gentle, given what happened to those poor sailors. According to an earlier article posted here, to save the ship from sinking, the crew had to close off the compartments where the sailors died ands leave them to drown.
Feet shops, many more officers with no ship billets, thousands more “enforce, inspect, monitor, report, teach (homosexual awareness, racism,sexism) classes .
This reminded me of the two Sailors that blew up a big gun on a Battle ship by overloading it. I think they were Gay.
Fewer ships, more shore officers.
My first thought was the similarity with vehicles crashing into crowds. We’re fighting against muzzies in the Philippines. Ship was Philippine flagged.
Really??....We would have returned the signal.
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