Posted on 06/17/2017 7:20:21 PM PDT by proust
YOKOSUKA, Japan -- A number of Sailors that were missing from the collision between USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and a merchant ship have been found. As search and rescue crews gained access to the spaces that were damaged during the collision this morning, the missing Sailors were located in the flooded berthing compartments. They are currently being transferred to Naval Hospital Yokosuka where they will be identified. The families are being notified and being provided the support they need during this difficult time. The names of the Sailors will be released after all notifications are made.
What matters to me is you stinking up this thread with snark when you obviously have no idea what you’re talking about. These guys just died protecting your right to shoot your mouth off, so have at it.
What I have had a bit of contact with is AIS. Be a bit shocked if the Fitzgerald did not have an AIS receiver on the bridge. So many small yachts that might not show up on radar do have AIS transponders for just that reason.
They work on VHF and should have shown everyone's position, except for the Fitz if they were not transmitting. Even around here in their home waters, they typically do not transmit AIS ID. But, they sure as hell should have picked up the container ship.
The AIS shows speed and course, and alarms if minimums are violated. I do not bother, only cruise ships and a few sailing vessels use it around me, but they are easy to see.
And you're a liar too. Keep it up.
"...Oh, poor widdle navy. Anything from an OKC ammonia bomb on a barge to Battlestar Gallictica can sneak up on them and blow them to smithereens...
Try and show a little respect.
My guess continues to be the hit was at the sudden 90° starboard turn. What Drago posted makes sense, a crew on autopilot and not paying attention until the shiite hits the fan. Even the autopilot trying to get them back on course fits.
"...Oh, poor widdle navy. Anything from an OKC ammonia bomb on a barge to Battlestar Gallictica can sneak up on them and blow them to smithereens...
Try and show a little respect.
This is sarcasm. Sorry you didn't get it.
You don’t make the rules. I’m telling everyone from personal experience that collisions can happen when the situation is confusing enough. If this is difficult for you, or if you think it makes the Navy seem weak, then there’s no hope for you.
No, I got it. I didn’t think it was justified.
I had the impression billthedrill wasn’t making excuses, but was highlighting the fact that even with all the electronic gear, navigating a busy waterway holds a lot of pitfalls.
I didn’t see the poster making excuses for anyone. I have a suspicion blithedrill understands better than anyone just where this is going to end up for the Captain of the USS Fitzgerald.
Yes.
Or me on the Harvey Milk or Gabby Giffords.
“”Aloha Snackbar”” was the helmsman on the container ship is my guess ....
The ship’s captain, Commander Bryce Benson, was asleep when the accident happened and his cabin was destroyed by the impact at 2.30am on Saturday.The USS Fitzgerald's captain, Benson, was airlifted early Saturday to the US Naval Hospital in Yokosuka and was in stable condition with a head injury, the Navy said.
According to a report from the Navy Times, Executive Officer Commander Sean Babbitt has assumed command after the collision.
According to the Navy, the collision occurred 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, home to the 7th Fleet.
The Philippine-flagged container ship was berthed at Tokyo's Oi wharf, where officials questioned crew members about the cause of the crash.
The Fitzgerald completed $21 million in upgrades and repairs in February, and recently made a port call to the US Navy's Subic Bay base in the Philippines and conducted patrols in the South China Sea.
The ship's crew used the stop to conduct some minor repairs with the assistance of Philippine companies.
Some fairly informed speculation in the forum comments here (”gCaptain” is a maritime related site): http://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uss-fitzgerald-collides-with-acx-crystal-off-coast-of-japan/45129/46
FWIW, Unconfirmed, from Reddit:
“I actually just got word from another shipmate that was on board the USS Fitzgerald as well. He said that the cargo ship did not appear on the radar and the lights were dim. They tried to turn, but by then it was too late. When they hit, the berthing rooms started to flood. They sealed off all the berthing rooms, essentially trapping the sailors because they thought no one was in any of the rooms to avoid sinking the ship.”
We peons get to make a choice, bleed to death in the mud or drown in the dark. I chose mud. Some choose dark.
Really. One wonders how a ship built to dodge cruise miss Les at Mach I gets whacked by an iceberg.
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