Seven U.S. sailors lost their lives when the Navy destroyer collided with a Philippine flagged container ship in the middle of the night off the coast of Japan. Because the investigation is ongoing, he could not say if the Fitzgerald was "solely responsible" for the collision with the ACX Crystal.
The Navy also released a report detailing the harrowing moments immediately following the ship's collision.
It took 90 seconds for one of the Fitzgerald's sleeping quarters to completely flood, leaving the 35 sailors sleeping there little time to try to escape.
As the water quickly rose, two sailors who had been helping others up a ladder eventually had to climb out of the compartment, according to the report. They reached their hands back down through the hatch where they were able to pull out two more sailors.
Twenty-eight survived, while seven others drowned. The captain’s quarters also took a direct hit, fully destroying the room and trapping the captain in debris. The ship's crew had to use sledgehammers, a kettle bell and their own bodies to force their way into his quarters, according to the report.
"A junior officer and two chief petty officers removed debris from in front of the door and crawled into the cabin," the Navy's report read. "The skin of the ship and outer bulkhead were gone and the night sky could be seen through the hanging wires and ripped steel. The rescue team tied themselves together with a belt in order to create a makeshift harness as they retrieved the [commanding officer], who was hanging from the side of the ship."
That is a huge story we the civilian public is not hearing about. I’ll bet the sailors on that vessel all know what happened and why. They have probably all been sworn to secrecy or they ‘might’ lose their benefits.
Seven lives gone! No enemy attack needed this time.
Well, what else is one to do to save a sinking ship with you on it?
He tells me there was an unqualified person on the bridge and in charge. Now he's on some kind of drunken rant about affirmative action and lesbians...
I worry about him sometimes.
PING,,,, thought it would be of interest.
I certainly hope those two sailors who stayed behind to search for and help their shipmates escape Berthing 2 are in line for some serious awards and decorations!
I will NEVER believe whatever Navy “cover story” they come up with.
With all the “impossible” things that had to happen in order for this to be the fault of the Fitzgerald and her crew, making me believe that they were at fault is .... IMPOSSIBLE!
The truth will be buried at all costs, (Flight 800)
“You can’t handle the truth!”
——a kettle bell ——
???