[William R. Moore]

In what seems to be a re-run, there's another destroyer being the victim in a sea going hit & run.

There has been some noise in certain circles that the Navy is so focused on achieving gender equality/neutrality and avoiding micro-aggression that sea going skills aren't on the stove anymore, let alone on back burner.

At any rate, the Pacific Fleet CO is going to try to do what we used to refer to as root cause analysis to determine cause and cure. I wish him a lot of luck, but at least he has a more sympathetic set of ears in the DOD.

 

[TooTall]

If so, it's going to be be a new CO.

The U.S. Navy on Wednesday relieved the admiral in charge of the service's 7th Fleet based in Japan over a "loss of confidence in his ability to command," it said in a statement.

The move follows four incidents in the Pacific since late January, including two collisions that left sailors dead and missing.

Adm. Scott Swift, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, relieved Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin from his duties at the 7th Fleet's Yokosuka base in Japan. Rear Adm. Phil Sawyer, the Pacific Fleet's deputy commander, will immediately take command. He had been scheduled to assume the post Sept. 7.

7th Fleet's leader loses job over disasters at sea

 

[csmkersh]

With four incidents in the same area this year I have to wonder if our vessels aren't being deliberately rammed. But that wouldn't explain the apparent lack of action by the folks on the bridge.

 

[William R. Moore]

Well, the bridge watch is also depending upon the radar watch and presumably, they still use the Mark 1 mod 0 eyeball watch. Wonder what they were doing? Or, possibly, they have a repeater scope on the bridge and no one was watching that.

I wasn't in the navy, but I have a civilian boat (not ship) drivers license. It was made quite clear that a spherical watch was a both a necessity and a requirement under the COLREGS.

 

[GunGeek]

With four incidents in the same area this year I have to wonder if our vessels aren't being deliberately rammed. But that wouldn't explain the apparent lack of action by the folks on the bridge.

The problem with that is it's the equivalent of a Corvette being rammed by a Kenworth. Sure the Kenworth can do a lot of damage, but only if the Corvette is sleeping.

Either our ships are allowing merchie's to get really close, or someone is asleep at the wheel.

The last one ended up being career defining moments for several on board...My bet is, it's the same with this one.

 

[TommyGunn]

The problem with that is it's the equivalent of a Corvette being rammed by a Kenworth. Sure the Kenworth can do a lot of damage, but only if the Corvette is sleeping.

Either our ships are allowing merchie's to get really close, or someone is asleep at the wheel.

The last one ended up being career defining moments for several on board...My bet is, it's the same with this one.

My father was an Annapolis grad and Navy vet, served aboard surface ships before Korea and subs after. There were a few Navy vs. civilian collisions back 30-40 years ago he was aware of; he said a Navy ship hits anything, the CO has ended his career, the Navy gets hit by anything, the CO has ended his career, as either his ship shouldn't have been there, or should have gotten out of the way. Even if he was asleep in the cabin, since he was still in charge ......

 

[William R. Moore]

The overall Pacific Fleet CO isn't the same as the 7th Fleet CO. The 7th Fleet CO was relieved as all the collisions were in his command.

I haven't really closely examined the superstructures of the latest Navy ships, but the bridge wings that used to be on there to provide expanded range of vision appear to be missing. The current fashion seems to be a structure that closely resembles an office building. Perhaps the Navy has become overly dependent upon electronics.

 

[CaptainGyro]

I'm beginning to wonder if the Golden Gate is wide enough.

 

[TommyGunn]

Hmmmmmm.....an early news report I heard on the radio this morning stated that the possibility of cyber warfare was being considered as a possible cause.

This may get intesting ......... or maybe not....

 

[WaltGraham]

Hmmmmmm.....an early news report I heard on the radio this morning stated that the possibility of cyber warfare was being considered as a possible cause.

I heard that too; it's feasible that the merchant vessel's autopiloting software got hacked causing it to turn into the destroyer's path.

Doesn't explain why no one on the destroyer noticed something that big about to come knocking though.