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UPDATE - USS Fitzgerald involved in collision
US Navy web site ^ | 16-June-2017

Posted on 06/17/2017 3:16:48 AM PDT by topher

tory Number: NNS170616-20Release Date: 6/16/2017 4:57:00 PM

From U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

PHILIPPINE SEA (NNS) -- USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) was involved in a collision with a merchant vessel at approximately 2:30 a.m. local time, June 17, while operating about 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan.

As of this time, there have been two patients requiring medical evacuation. One was Cmdr. Bryce Benson, Fitzgerald's commanding officer, who was transferred to U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka and is reportedly in stable condition. A second MEDEVAC is in progress. Other injured are being assessed. There are seven Sailors unaccounted for; the ship and the Japanese Coast Guard continues to search for them.

Although Fitzgerald is under her own power, USS Dewey (DDG 105) got underway this morning as well as several U.S. Navy aircraft, and will join Japanese Coast Guard and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters, ships and aircraft to render whatever assistance may be required.

"U.S. and Japanese support from the Navy, Maritime Self Defense Force and Coast Guard are in the area to ensure that the Sailors on USS Fitzgerald have the resources they need to stabilize their ship. As more information is learned, we will be sure to share to it with the Fitzgerald families and when appropriate the public. Thank you for your well wishes and messages of concern. All of our thoughts and prayers are with the Fitzgerald crew and their families," said Adm. John Richardson, Chief of Naval Operations.

"Right now we are focused on two things: the safety of the ship and the well-being of the Sailors," said Adm. Scott Swift, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. "We thank our Japanese partners for their assistance."

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from U.S. Pacific Fleet, visit www.cpf.navy.mil.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; Japan; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: burkeclass; fitzgerald; japan; usnavy; ussfitzgerald
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To: Covenantor
My bro always said he learned never to trust a ship that was not US flagged.

He was on the bridge and suddenly saw a sub surfacing in the distance. His Merchant ship was able to skim it.

61 posted on 06/17/2017 4:54:35 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: mewzilla

Good question. If it was NOT moving that is a whole other angle.


62 posted on 06/17/2017 4:56:22 AM PDT by madison10 (My language has gotten 10 times worse since June 14 2017.)
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To: topher

After looking at this crude drawing, it appears if the damage had been slight more towards the bow a missile magazine would have been involved. Not good. They may have been lucky in this regard.

63 posted on 06/17/2017 4:57:01 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Flick Lives
You can't be serious. If one even had the intention of engineering such an event, how would you orchestrate having the U.S. ship plow into the bow of a cargo ship in the middle of a shipping lane?

You need to get on the right page..


64 posted on 06/17/2017 4:58:02 AM PDT by Covenantor (Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern. " Chesterton)
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To: topher

It looks to me like the tanker or whatever hit the Navy ship at mid section. I can’t see how the Navy ship could have suffered that damage if it hit the other ship first.


65 posted on 06/17/2017 4:58:34 AM PDT by Uncle Sam 911
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To: nuconvert

Collisions are usually the fault of both ships underway, usually one more than the other. COLREGS require you to take early and effective action to avoid a. Illusion regardless of who is the “burdened vessel” (required to give way). The only exception is if one is broken down (not under command) and unable to maneuver, but even then she responsibilities to communicate her status to other vessels (Red over Red, the Captain is Dead).


66 posted on 06/17/2017 4:59:18 AM PDT by SargeK
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To: angcat

Some people, even here, want to make everything about Trump. Particularly any thing to make him look bad.


67 posted on 06/17/2017 5:02:10 AM PDT by sipow
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To: Covenantor

Did the cargo ship purposely ram and then reverse? Or was the Fitzgerald trying to turn out of the way?

Going to be quite the inquiry. (Or whatever the proper term)


68 posted on 06/17/2017 5:02:28 AM PDT by madison10 (My language has gotten 10 times worse since June 14 2017.)
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To: topher

“Navy ship collides with” ......thats all I have read.

The photos show a gash in the side of the USN and the bow of the container ship scraped up.
Looks to me like the container collide with the Starboard side of the USN.
What gives?


69 posted on 06/17/2017 5:04:13 AM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: mewzilla

Maybe but unlikely. Collisions happen all too often, usually due to a failure to maintain a proper watch, serious miscalculation of relative speed and bearing or failure to take proper and effective a avoidance.

The destroyer was struck on her starboard side, her green sector. She may have been the “give way” vessel.


70 posted on 06/17/2017 5:05:37 AM PDT by SargeK
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To: SargeK

..makes sense..the bow of the cargo ship shows damage all the way up to near deck level


71 posted on 06/17/2017 5:07:35 AM PDT by Doogle (( USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated)))
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To: Covenantor

You might want to read the original post I was responding to, which premised that the North Koreans engineered this disaster.


72 posted on 06/17/2017 5:10:44 AM PDT by Flick Lives
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To: central_va

Basic Training swimming requirements for the USN are just that basic.
Real Basic
3rd ClassSwim Test Pass Fail
If you have been thrown of the side of a ship that has just been rammed especially if you have been traumatized or banged up is a whole different story.

Third-Class Swim Test -
A third class swim test is a test to determine if a person can stay afloat and survive without the use of a personal Flotation Device (PFD) in open water long enough to be rescued in a man-overboard situation. The 3rd class swimmer qualification is the minimum entry-level requirement for all U.S. Navy Personnel.


73 posted on 06/17/2017 5:14:17 AM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Just not done, Life Jackets in calm seas impede the ability to function. They are bulky compared to a Life Vest for combat. Flight deck crews wear reflective ones like crossing guards wear. Just not a typical on deck wear except in rough seas. May sound stupid to those not in Navy, but that is how the Navy operates. It’s not changed since hubby was a Sailor working the Flight Deck, and he’s been retired since the 80’s.


74 posted on 06/17/2017 5:14:41 AM PDT by GailA (Ret. SCPO wife: suck it up Buttercups it's President Donald Trump! DRAIN THE SWAMP)
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To: SargeK
On the subject of collisions...

Site of ship collision gets heavy traffic

Seems to me the area would make captains even more vigilant.

75 posted on 06/17/2017 5:16:15 AM PDT by mewzilla (Was Obama surveilling John Roberts? Might explain a lot.)
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To: CGASMIA68

Water temperature is the key factor to surviving in the ocean long enough for SAR to find you.


76 posted on 06/17/2017 5:16:45 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: madison10

Given the damage location and the size of the vessels, it is hard to see any scenario where the Fitzgerald is not at fault.

The cargo ship was clearly to its starboard side, making the Fitzgerald the give way vessel. Beyond that the more maneuverable vessel should give way.


77 posted on 06/17/2017 5:16:46 AM PDT by sipow
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To: sipow

Thanks!


78 posted on 06/17/2017 5:19:07 AM PDT by madison10 (My language has gotten 10 times worse since June 14 2017.)
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To: Bonemaker

Maybe a Tranny of Lesbian or Homosexual at the helm worried and confused about “its” sexuality and not paying attention to the instruments.

Welcome to the New Nav


79 posted on 06/17/2017 5:19:46 AM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: CGASMIA68

This is a nasty comment these men are great Americans.


80 posted on 06/17/2017 5:22:48 AM PDT by angcat (THANK YOU LORD FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP!!!!!)
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