USS FITGERALD Collision: June 17, 2017

[Oldgateboatdriver]

Damn! I was sure I had put "US" before warship. Must be typing at slower rate than I can think about what I want to say.  ;D

Yes we, in Canada usually have the AIS on unless actually engaged in ops or actual training phase of an ex. Only then do we turn them off. We consider it polite.

 

[FJAG]

Perhaps, unless they turn them off while you are looking at their track (somewhat to the SW of the collision . . . okay, not really close).

https://www.vesselfinder.com/?mmsi=316147000
https://www.vesselfinder.com/?mmsi=316195000

True that. There are several Japanese military ships in the area and, as well, there is a ship described as "US Warship 105" that launched from Yokosuka not long after the collision and went to the collision site where she is still steaming.

:cheers:

 

[tomahawk6]

True that. There are several Japanese military ships in the area and, as well, there is a ship described as "US Warship 105" that launched from Yokosuka not long after the collision and went to the collision site where she is still steaming.

:cheers:

That would be the USS Dewey presently involved for the search for the 7 missing sailors.

 

[Lumber]

I am just surprized that at some point, someone on the Fitz didn't notice this was getting close and kicked her into high gear to 32 knots + to just outrun the merchie.

This baffles me as well. The Crystal may not have thought a 7000t warship was in front of them, but the Fitz would have been tracking her on at least 3 different sensors, on the bridge and in ops.

Shall; May; Shall. So why didn't the Fitz kick it up to full speed and peel off to port when  the Crystal closed to within 1000 yards?

Consider: the Captain was injured and medivac'd. When a situation develops and a collision seems possible, the Captain is woken up and he heads to the bridge.  However, from the pictures, the bridge wasn't damaged. So how did the Captain get injured? Perhaps because he wasn't on the bridge?

I've actually sailed as a bridge watch keeper aboard an Arleigh Burke (under training at the time). As much as I love working with the USN, the quality of their junior bridge watch keeps is seriously lacking. Our officers go through a year and  a half of formal training followed by at least a year of OJT before the Captain trusts them enough to take charge of the ship. American officers under go no formal classroom training; it's all OJT, and they award there tickets much sooner. The result is bridge watch keepers who are less capable and confident than should be required. To see what I mean, check out the bridge audio recording from when the USS PORTER was struck by a merchant ship a few years back. You can here the Officer of the Watch trying to make recommendations to his CO, but he's fumbling over his words, barely confident enough to speak let alone provide sound, convincing and safe advice to his CO.

So, here's what I think happened.

The Fitz saw that the crystal was closing. It probably looked like they were being overtaken, but it also probably was so close to a crossing situation that their should have been some doubt in the  Officer of the Watch's mind. When the Crystal didn't alter course, the Officer of the Watch should have called her on VHF. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't, but regardless, the Crystal still didn't move. At this point, he should have called the CO to the bridge. As the Crystal continued to close without altering course, and got so close that it seems collision was a high probability, he should have altered course without the CO's directing. "Full speed ahead, left 15 degree rudder, steady on course 090." Why didn't any of this happen? Possibly the Officer of the Watch was too afraid to take action. He might even have been too afraid to even call the Captain at night. Or, maybe he did call the Captain, but the captain was so convinced that it was the Crystal's job to alter course that he refused to take action.

So much could have been avoided with a simple VHF call and a confident engine order..

 

[FJAG]

That would be the USS Dewey presently involved for the search for the 7 missing sailors.

Interesting. The Dewey is identified as "DDG-105" which seems to correspond to "US Warship 105". I've punched in a few numbers without luck although "US Warship 51" did come up off the coast of New York City. "DDG 51" is the Arleigh Burke which has Norfolk as it's home port.

:cheers:

 

[Occam]

The USN is reporting that all 7 sailors were found dead in flooded compartments.  RIP, matelots.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/17/us/missing-sailors-found/index.html

 

[jollyjacktar]

Not good news.  My deepest condolences to family and crewmates.   

 

[tomahawk6]

The damage was below the waterline.The captains cabin was destroyed by the impact. The ship had been in danger of sinking but due to the actions of the crew they saved their ship.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/navy-stops-search-7-missing-sailors-bodies-found-055115455.html

 

[Good2Golf]

Well done, the Ship's crew.  I understand that no matter the MOSID, all are DC and firefighter first, and the Fitzgerald's crew saved the ship.

RIP to those sailors who perished.

Regards
G2G

 

[Stoker]

Its been on my mind for the last several days the seven sailors aboard the USS FITZGERALD who tragically met their end. I'm sure when they went to their racks that night, it never entered their mind of something happening to them like that.Sailing aboard a Naval Vessel is inherently dangerous proposition from fire, flood, collision or simply an accident from falling down a ladder or falling over the side. Over the years I came close to being washed over the side mid Atlantic and faced my share of near misses from potential fires and catastrophic failures of equipment. We are all trained firefighters on board and my trade specializes in situations such as Damage Control, Helo Crash firefighting among others. My current job on the training and safety at sea side of the spectrum deals with these sort of situations and this is a good wake up call for all of us to renew our efforts to mentor and train the new generation of sailors to mitigate the hazards of a life at sea.

 

[Rifleman62]

The Captain's cabin was reportedly completely destroyed. Commander Bryce Benson took command about a month ago.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Well done, the Ship's crew.  I understand that no matter the MOSID, all are DC and firefighter first, and the Fitzgerald's crew saved the ship.

RIP to those sailors who perished.

Regards
G2G

We are all sailors first.  Float, Move, Fight

 

[tomahawk6]

Another account by a sailor who was in the flooding berthing compartment.Interesting that thinking they were under attack some members of the crew wen to their battale staions.

https://japantoday.com/category/national/navy-stops-search-for-7-missing-sailors-after-bodies-found

 

[Furniture]

Another account by a sailor who was in the flooding berthing compartment.Interesting that thinking they were under attack some members of the crew wen to their battale staions.

https://japantoday.com/category/national/navy-stops-search-for-7-missing-sailors-after-bodies-found

I always liked that our mess decks on CPFs are above the water line, this story really makes me appreciate it more. I can imagine few situations at sea more horrible than having your mess deck ripped open in your sleep, and sea water flooding in.

 

[tomahawk6]

The deceased sailors have been identified. RIP

https://www.navytimes.com/articles/navy-identifies-seven-sailors-killed-in-fitzgerald-collision

According to a statement from U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs, the deceased included:

Gunner’s Mate Seaman Dakota Kyle Rigsby, 19, from Palmyra, Virginia

Yeoman 3rd Class Shingo Alexander Douglass, 25, from San Diego, California

Sonar Technician 3rd Class Ngoc T Truong Huynh, 25, from Oakville, Connecticut

Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Noe Hernandez, 26, from Weslaco, Texas

Fire Controlman 2nd Class Carlosvictor Ganzon Sibayan, 23, from Chula Vista, California

Personnel Specialist 1st Class Xavier Alec Martin, 24, from Halethorpe, Maryland

Fire Controlman 1st Class Gary Leo Rehm Jr., 37, from Elyria, Ohio

Official 7th Fleet PR.

http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1217872/us-navy-identifies-7-deceased-fitzgerald-sailors/

 

[jollyjacktar]

I always liked that our mess decks on CPFs are above the water line, this story really makes me appreciate it more. I can imagine few situations at sea more horrible than having your mess deck ripped open in your sleep, and sea water flooding in.

21 Mess on CAL, HAL, WIN and FRE are on 4 deck which puts them into the waterline.  Although I expect regardless of where your mess is located, if something comes smashing in like this, you're going to be fighting for your life.

 

[tomahawk6]

Interesting article from the Pacific edition Stars and Stripes concerning the aftermath of the crash. The article gives one a sense of the spirit of comradeship evident in the USN.Sailors standing watches aboard the Fitz in addition to their normal assigned duties on their own ships.

https://www.stripes.com/news/flooding-weak-bulkheads-remain-problems-for-uss-fitzgerald-after-collision-1.474275#.WUfEuUhtm70

“As far as damage … I think this was greater damage compared to the USS Cole,” said Damage Controlman Chief Andrae Sutherland, who participated in emergency response efforts after the October 2000 bombing that killed 17 Americans and injured 39.

 

[tomahawk6]

The Japanese Coast Guard investigators have discovered that the Crystal delayed an hour reporting the collision. They are now asking why this delay ? Its not looking good for the Crystal as being the cause of the collision.Still early to draw a conclusion.

https://www.navytimes.com/articles/japan-investigates-delay-in-reporting-us-navy-ship-collision

TOKYO — Japan's coast guard is investigating why it took nearly an hour for a deadly collision between a U.S. Navy destroyer and a container ship to be reported.

A coast guard official said Monday they are trying to find out what the crew of the Philippine-flagged ACX Crystal was doing before reporting the collision off Japan's coast to authorities 50 minutes later.

 

[FJAG]

The Japanese Coast Guard investigators have discovered that the Crystal delayed an hour reporting the collision. They are now asking why this delay ? Its not looking good for the Crystal as being the cause of the collision.Still early to draw a conclusion.

https://www.navytimes.com/articles/japan-investigates-delay-in-reporting-us-navy-ship-collision

TOKYO — Japan's coast guard is investigating why it took nearly an hour for a deadly collision between a U.S. Navy destroyer and a container ship to be reported.

A coast guard official said Monday they are trying to find out what the crew of the Philippine-flagged ACX Crystal was doing before reporting the collision off Japan's coast to authorities 50 minutes later.

This article certainly explains the earlier timeline discrepancy between the initial press reports and Maritime Traffic ACX Crystal movement trace. A 0130 hrs collision clearly puts ACX Chrystal on the initial eastward track where the sharp turn to starboard happens. Her 0225 hrs report to the Coast Guard would be consistent with her returning on the westward track to the general area of the collision.

:cheers:

 

[tomahawk6]

The CO of USS Stethem talks about the support effort ongoing for the Fitz crew.

https://www.dvidshub.net/video/533089/uss-stethem-co-discusses-uss-fitzgerald#