Posted on 07/21/2017 10:42:18 AM PDT by rktman
A preliminary investigation into the collision of the USS Fitzgerald and a Philippine cargo ship in June has revealed that the U.S. Navy is at fault.
According to two defense officials who spoke with CNN, the crew aboard the USS Fitzgerald made numerous abysmal mistakes which led to the collision with the ACX Crystal in an area known for commercial shipping.
The investigation is likely to result in recommendations for possible punishment, making the review “dual purpose.”
“They did nothing until the last second,” one official said, speaking of the crew on the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. “A slew of things went wrong.”
The second official stated that the crash “will wind up being our fault.”
Initial findings suggest that the Fitzgerald crew not only did not acknowledge the ship was approaching, but sailors also failed to perform their duties in order to stop the impact, which left a large gash in the side of the destroyer measuring about 200 feet.
The collision on June 17, which occurred 56 miles off the coast of Japan, resulted in the deaths of seven U.S. Navy sailors.
The findings up to this point will be sent to 7th Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin for review.
Aucoin has already stated the day after the collision that the damage to the Fitzgerald is major.
“The ship suffered severe damage rapidly flooding three large compartments that included one machine room and two berthing areas for 116 crew, ” Aucoin said. “The commanding officer’s cabin was also directly hit, trapping the CO inside.”
The Fitzgerald has undergone extensive repairs since the incident, but will have to return to a U.S. shipyard for full repairs. Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Scott Swift is looking for a ship to take over the work of the Fitzgerald in the meantime.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
Did anyone else find some irony in the ship being named Fitzgerald...?
It used to be that when some claimed the TWA 800 missile was American not Muslim, I would immediately scoff.
But I’m not scoffing anymore.
Break out the MISSOURI. Hell, it worked in “Battleship.” And no steenkin’ merchant ship would have caused as much damage.
I’m wonder what stopped the Obama regime from naming a ship the Rainbow Warrior.
Note welding job below the water line
Thanks for posting it, rktman. Sigh. This kind of thing is just sad. Not just the loss of life, that is a given, but if this is true, an indication of low standards.
I wish it weren’t true.
“Initial findings suggest that the Fitzgerald crew not only did not acknowledge the ship was approaching, but sailors also failed to perform their duties in order to stop the impact, which left a large gash in the side of the destroyer measuring about 200 feet.”
Persons were it seems asleep at the helm.
Time.
If they had more time in office...Hell, they already got a ship named after Giffords, which makes me want to spit. And...the USNS Harvey Milk? YOU HAVE TO BE SH*****G ME.
What are the names of these “officials?”
Better to wait until the actual findings are released. Remember, this is CNN.
I feel secure knowing we have such outstanding Navy personnel not at the ready.
A billion dollar ship collision.
Were they ALL jerking off in the engine room?
“A slew of things went wrong.”
I have heard, and use, the Swiss Chesse model of things going wrong.
Each slice of cheese represents a process/procedure. Each hole is a potential for a screw-up. When you put all of the layers of cheese together any one slice can block a mistake by lining up a hole with a an intact section of cheese.
But when all the whole line up there is a screw-up. So the trick is eliminate all those holes. There are always going to be the opportunity for hole, but the less holes there are on each slice the less the chance for them all to line up and cause something like this.
Yes, the fleet has been so reduced - the stupid Littoral Combat Ship was supposed to take over many DD tasks despite being completely inadequate to do so. Unfortunately, we went ahead and retired the older DDs first even though there weren’t actual LCS ready to go and problems with the platforms.
Training and obedience are racist, sexist and patriarchal.
The sailors in the engine room were doing their job. The folks jerking off were located in CIC and on the Bridge of the Fitzgerald. They are the ones responsible for the collision.
It has been 35+ years since I stood OOD watch. I was also the Ship's CIC Officer.
If this report is correct, there is going to be a mountain of crap rolling downhill. The CO, OOD, CICWO, are pretty much toast. Depending on the exact circumstances the JOOD, XO, Ops Boss, and even some enlisted watchstanders may get tarred as well. If it is found that anyone was doing their job and reports were ignored then it will get worse for the involved individuals.
This is the way it is and it is that way for a reason. COs are given great responsibility, they are given the means (the ship & crew) to accomplish that responsibility, and they must be held accountable for any failures that are within their capacity to prevent. This was certainly preventable.
"Ceterum censeo Islam esse delendam."
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
***Did anyone else find some irony in the ship being named Fitzgerald...?
Nope. Not going to do it.
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