Posted on 11/04/2021 2:24:24 PM PDT by DFG
The US Navy has fired a nuclear submarine's Commanding Officer, Executive Officer and Chief of the Boat for 'loss of confidence' after their vessel collided with an 'uncharted seamount' in the South China Sea.
The $3.1 billion USS Connecticut's CO Cmdr Cameron Aljilani, XO Lt Cmdr Patrick Cashin and COB Cory Rodgers were relieved of their positions on Wednesday.
A seamount is a mountain which rises from the ocean floor.
A statement from the Navy said that the October 2 crash, which injured 11 crew members, could have been prevented with 'sound judgement, prudent decision-making and adherence to required procedures in navigation planning'.
Three interim officers were ordered to fill in and the Seawolf-class submarine is reportedly in Guam 'undergoing damage assessment' overseen by the Naval Sea Systems Command.
On the day the USS Connecticut struck the underwater mountain there were soaring tensions with China after 39 warplanes breached Taiwanese airspace and a record 56 aircraft flew into the zone two days later in a 24-hour period.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I heard he yelled “Allah’u akbar” on the ship’s comms just before the collision.
I have no doubt that there are others here who are far more qualified to answer this than I am, but I think the point of remaining underwater is not only to be unseen, but unheard.
Even if they could send out pings, this would defeat the purpose.
I think I know someone who was on the boat but he hid the identity really well.
“Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”
Remember, WWII submarines were ineffective until a new breed of rash, almost dangerous, commanders took them over.
So maybe these guys were incompetent. Or maybe they were were too aggressive for our woke navy. The problem is few of us trust the military’s judgement anymore.
One possible reason - if you are in an area which you know is not fully charted, you’re probably expected to follow different procedures than if you’re in an area that you know to be accurately charted. Don’t follow the right procedures, and hit something... you’re in trouble.
Hmmm… they relieved the chief sonar tech also? I thought they usually try to run silent (without sonar) most of the time.
“If its uncharted how the hell was the navigator supposed to know what hidden hazards were going to be in the vessels path?”
Was the cartographer relieved of duty?
Good question.I haven’t heard if the Navigator was also held responsible.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-aljilani-72517790/
Here’s his Linkd in profile
Seems as though he has a lot of experience, but having all his life details on Linkd-in screams to me: “Hey China, send a sexy Honey-pot agent his way!”
The Navy probably took the speed of the submarine in consideration in its decision.
There was an incident in the South Pacific some years ago where another boat rammed into the side of an underwater mountain; the speed at which the boat was going resulted in a sailor being thrown against a bulkhead with sufficient force to cost him his life.
It turned out that some of the mapping from that particular part of the world dates back to the days of (wait for it...) Captain Cook (in the 18th century); the boat was literally hurtling forward into the unknown.
The Navy accepted the commander's argument that the mapping he had was demonstrably inadequate, but Captain Obvious put a question to him he couldn't adequately answer: "Then why would you go so quickly into what is basically uncharted waters?"
There is no unmapped areas of the ocean floor. That statement is a lie. It’s likely just cover for gross incompetance navigation failure.
I thought the XO was the CO’s admin. I didn’t know they did navigation. I thought COB was like a First Sergeant type of role.
What if the chicoms purposely dumped rubble to raise an existing low mount? Their subs would have it charted and easily avoid. Ours would not
Might be Fleet Admiral Rachel Levine. /smirk
They were enjoying triple-thrill copulation when they should have been at their duty stations?
Something strange here that we’re canning the commander for hitting an uncharted sea mount. Was he supposed to be clairvoyant?
Did he scream: “Allahu Akbar” as the sub rammed the obstacle?
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