Article

2017-08-23 Government

U.S. Navy admiral: USS John S. McCain, oil tanker collision may have been intentional

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Besoeker 2017-08-23 07:25|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 What we know is that both USN ships were Aegis carriers.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2017-08-23 07:35|| 2017-08-23 07:35|| Front Page Top

#2 The question I ask is, "What nations would benefit from having a diminished US naval presence in the Pacific?"

The answer also seems to be the same nations that have a history of hacking and sabotaging US defense networks and material.

Posted by DarthVader 2017-08-23 08:44|| 2017-08-23 08:44|| Front Page Top

#3 “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action” - Ian Fleming

Posted by PBMcL 2017-08-23 09:15|| 2017-08-23 09:15|| Front Page Top

#4 Yes the incompetent USN captain rammed into the much larger and unwieldy supertanker.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2017-08-23 09:26|| 2017-08-23 09:26|| Front Page Top

#5 No. The supertanker sneaked up on the destroyer, suddenly accelerated to ramming speed and crashed into it.

Posted by gorb 2017-08-23 09:56|| 2017-08-23 09:56|| Front Page Top

#6 Maybe next time the tanker gets sunk before it gets too close.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2017-08-23 09:58|| 2017-08-23 09:58|| Front Page Top

#7 Saw it here first:
Russian Navy reconnaissance ship sinks after collision in Black Sea

Posted by Skidmark 2017-08-23 11:08|| 2017-08-23 11:08|| Front Page Top

#8 Wouldn't it be nice if the Admiral gave some indication about whether the suspected intensionality was on the part of the oil tanker, or on the part of some spontaneously jihadist death-eater on the USS McCain?

Or - some Croatian/Roumanian/North Korean/Russian hackers?

Posted by Lone Ranger 2017-08-23 13:15|| 2017-08-23 13:15|| Front Page Top

#9 Could it be that in this case, since the tanker was the burdened vessel (obliged to give way) and the McCain was the privileged vessel ( in normal circumstances obliged to remain on course) that the collision involved waiting too long on the McCain to realize that the tanker wasn't going to follow the rules. IN the last case, and in other reporting, foreign flag vessels late at night seem to have their vessels under GPS/Nav systems control with no competent officers awake or on the bridge, so the computer didn't know it was obliged to give way, and the McCain waited too long? Not a ship driver {my last vessel command was a 29ft Ericson sloop in Newport Beach, and that a long time ago.)

Posted by NoMoreBS 2017-08-23 14:17|| 2017-08-23 14:17|| Front Page Top

#10 Do commercial ships have a 'black box' that shows all steering instructions and such for after-action reports?

I'd also be curious to the nationality/religion and other facts about he helmsman of the tanker. Just to rule that line of inquiry out quickly of course.

Posted by rjschwarz 2017-08-23 16:04|| 2017-08-23 16:04|| Front Page Top

#11 Isn't a naval destroyer a little more maneuverable than an oil tanker?

Posted by CrazyFool 2017-08-23 17:44|| 2017-08-23 17:44|| Front Page Top

#12 well, it IS the USS McCain. Veered to the left

Posted by Frank G 2017-08-23 18:19|| 2017-08-23 18:19|| Front Page Top

#13 Veered to the left
Perhaps the OD turned to Port.

Posted by Skidmark 2017-08-23 20:18|| 2017-08-23 20:18|| Front Page Top

23:45 M. Murcek
22:22 trailing wife
22:21 Waldemar Ulereling8527
22:19 newc
22:17 newc
21:43 USN, Ret.
21:42 Zenobia Floger6220
21:40 Grunter
21:32 USN, Ret.
20:46 SteveS
20:29 Procopius2k
20:20 Skidmark
20:18 Skidmark
20:13 Skidmark
20:11 Skidmark
20:06 Skidmark
18:56 chris
18:52 One Eyed Angulet1489
18:44 Whiskey Mike
18:36 Mercutio
18:33 Alaska Paul
18:19 Frank G
17:44 CrazyFool
17:30 trailing wife