I have no idea what the exact water temp was where that collision took place but I suspect it was in the 70+ degree range.
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.
Plucked many from the drink in all water temps as a CG SAR Crew
after 8 years of LGBTetc of the military with freaks like Bradley Manning in the military......one can only wonder who or what was at the helm.
snip
According to a Navy news release from last month, Benson, the Fitzgerald’s commander,
was new to the position, taking command of the vessel May 13 after serving as the ship’s
executive officer, or second in command, since November 2015.
The Fitzgerald is the second command for Benson, a 1999 Naval ROTC graduate of
Marquette University. He commanded the minesweeper USS Guardian, operating out of
Sasebo, Japan, from 2008 to 2010, before taking shore assignments in Washington
and with US Pacific Command.
The collision was the second in the region for US Navy warship in just over a month.
On May 9, the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain was struck by a South Korean
fishing boat off the Korean Peninsula.
No injuries were reported from that incident, which a Navy official said occurred when
the fishing boat’s crew did not have a radio to hear warnings from the US warship.
end snip
I have no idea what the exact water temp was where that collision took place but I suspect it was in the 70+ degree range.
The Captain might as well start retirement plans now!!!
The Acx Crystal, wouldn’t be operating under stealth conditions. Coming back from the Bahamas, I can see a vessel on radar, with a good ping, but no AIS. It’s the Coast Guard. They always operate, under stealth conditions.
It doesn’t matter, the Navy has the smaller more maneuverable ship. The Captain should still be relieved.
Those ships can stop on a dime or go to full speed in 4 football lengths of the ship.
They can turn so fast they can nearly capsize themselves.
Japanese language media. Some good pics of both vessels.
From pics at my above link, looks less like a t-bone and more like a side swipe.
Me too. Big dif in the condition of people pulled out off Bimini vs Woods Hole
If those missing were not injured they could still be alive.
Maybe they identified as a fighter pilot and could turn at the last second
The bulbous bow of the cargo ship probably did a lot of damage to the Fitzgerald under the waterline. That may be where the missing sailors are.
It’s hard to imagine a scenario that would bring these ships together that does not involve intent to do so. It would take a great deal of skill and luck for the large ship to catch the smaller ship. That leaves some sort of suicide or sabotage on board the Navy ship.
“....his career is in jeopardy - and probably (deservedly) ended.”.....
No doubt a career ending situation BUT, has anyone heard or read about WHY the two ships struck each other.
Have you been paying attention to what PC has done to our Mil?
Don’t look that way.
Agree about this being a sideswipe.
Both vessels were probably taking evasive action. The gray paint on the side of the cargo ship shows a large area of impact/scraping.
Had the cargo ship actually T-boned the cruiser, it would have been another PT-109--ie, being sliced in half.
That thought has been bugging since this happened. The DDG is a highly maneuverable ship and has a top speed of four or five times that of the hulking container ship.
Never thought of that. Or identified as a Blind Monk. Alls fair game these days.
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