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| Navy to oust top three sailors from USS Fitzgerald after deadly collision |
| 2017-08-18 |
| You knew this was coming The Navy plans to remove the top three officers from the USS Fitzgerald after a deadly collision off the coast of Japan that killed seven sailors, including two from San Diego. The Fitzgerald collided with the Philippine merchant ship ACX Crystal in June. The seven sailors who died were trapped in a flooded berthing compartment. Yeoman 3rd Class Shingo Douglass of San Diego, and Fire Controlman 2nd Class Carlos Victor Ganzon Sibayan of Chula Vista were among the victims. |
| Posted by:Frank G on the Road |
| #10 FP2169, I don't know how many are these days, but when I was on active duty in the early 70s, we had at least 6 or 7 - Officer of the Deck, Junior Officer of the deck, Helmsman (steered the ship), Lee Helmsman (sent orders to the engine), Quartermaster of the Watch (kept the log and noted the position of the ship), Bosuns Mate of the Watch, and possibly a messenger. With the reduced manning the Navy seems to be doing these days, I wouldn't be surprised if they eliminated the messenger and the lee helmsman, and possibly the bosuns mate. (Sorry for the sexist terms, but that was what the positions were called in my day. We didn't have any female crew members when I was aboard.) In addition to the bridge crew, there should have been several lookouts. These tend to be very junior, very bored people. There would have been several people in the Combat Information Center (CIC) as well - a watch officer, as well as several people watching radar screens. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2017-08-18 20:21 |
| #9 ...a different type of collision? |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2017-08-18 11:55 |
| #8 How many officers and men on the bridge of a destroyer. If there only two, was the OD playing with the female helmsman? |
| Posted by: Fluck Pholulet2169 2017-08-18 11:47 |
| #7 CU2776, as a sailor for 20 years I've seen shipmates crack up under pressure, so that is not uncommon, but you're also talking about an incident that happened elsewhere. |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2017-08-18 10:03 |
| #6 This was to be expected. The three are not being kicked out of the Navy (yet). They are being removed as CO, DO, and CMC. As far as not charging enlisted people, it depends. If a lookout was asleep, or someone in CIC, then they should be charged. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2017-08-18 09:34 |
| #5 I've wondered just how this happened. The possibility of a Command Cuture or Atmosphere as mentioned by RA sprang to mind. What is the point of look outs if they are not allowed to report threats. In the end I hope its not some poor seaman that gets stuck with the blame just to save someones career. |
| Posted by: Cheaderhead 2017-08-18 06:09 |
| #4 The ship's skipper is ultimately responsible for everyone and everything on the vessel. I do not like the idea of charging enlisted personnel. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2017-08-18 02:38 |
| #3 Normal procedure before an inquirey or Court Martial. |
| Posted by: Dopey Bumble8321 2017-08-18 00:46 |
| #2 Crazy. The Fitz can see threats on land, sea, air, and under the sea. They have several radars. They have guys with binoculars. Even if the Crystal had been running dark, they should have been seen. Some years ago, a carrier hit a mud bank in, iirc, San Francisco harbor. After that, the bridge doctrine was that everybody talked to everybody. If you see it, you say it, even if somebody else said it. Had the Officer of the Deck changed the atmosphere so that you'll speak when spoken to? Was the command atmosphere so bad that some of the sailors, seeing the Crystal, kept their mouths shut? |
| Posted by: Richard Aubrey 2017-08-18 00:30 |
| #1 article doesn't say whether they will be discharged also I'd like to see discharged, maybe with with less than honorable |
| Posted by: lord garth 2017-08-18 00:13 |