Pretty much what I said in post 42.

I'm grieving again...for the McCain Sailors, their families...and for my Navy...wtf....really...wtf

Maybe these captains should take some boaters saftey classes.

The North Koreans must be getting a great laugh. Embarrassing.

I've been out for 10 years now. I don't know how long since you retired, but brother... it's not our Navy any more. 4 ships, over 12 years at sea, and nary a close call... let alone a full on collision. And any time there was a mishap of any sort, we got the snot trained out of us so it didn't happen again. How does this happen again so soon?

Taking selfies on the bridge, sending texts or playing video games because gender sensitivity training was more important than seamanship or discipline. I'm just guessing and I hope I'm wrong.

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Prayers out for the missing sailors and and their families.

+1 🙏

US Navy dismisses 7th Fleet commander after deadly mishaps

The U.S. Navy has dismissed the commander of its 7th Fleet from duty after the fleet suffered its second deadly mishap in less than three months.

The Navy cited a loss of confidence in Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin’s ability to command, the Associated Press reported.

News that the decision was imminent was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

The 7th Fleet has been involved in three collisions since January, the last two of which have resulted in the deaths of 17 sailors.

In the latest mishap, the USS John S. McCain collided with an oil tanker before dawn Monday near Singapore. Ten sailors were reported missing, but officials confirmed Tuesday that Navy divers had found the remains of some sailors in a flooded compartment.

In June, seven sailors died when the USS Fitzgerald and a container ship collided in waters off Japan.

In January, the USS Antietam guided missile cruiser ran aground near Yokosuka base, the home port of the 7th Fleet, and in May another cruiser, the USS Lake Champlain from the Navy's 3rd Fleet, had a minor collision with a South Korean fishing boat.

U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Scott Swift told a news conference Tuesday that each of the incidents was "unique," but added that "they cannot be viewed in isolation."

Swift added the Navy would conduct an investigation "to find out if there is a common cause ... and if so, how do we solve that."

Navy Adm. John Richardson, the chief of naval operations, on Monday ordered a pause in 7th Fleet operations for the next few days to allow commanders to get together with leaders, sailors and command officials and identify any immediate steps that need to be taken to ensure safety.

A broader U.S. Navy review will look at the 7th Fleet's performance, including personnel, navigation capabilities, maintenance, equipment, surface warfare training, munitions, certifications and how sailors move through their careers. Richardson said the review will be conducted with the help of the Navy's office of the inspector general, the safety center and private companies that make equipment used by sailors.

🙏

Good move.

But, I suspect that Aucoin had already presented reasons prior to the collisions. Because that was sort of sudden. What about the DESRON 15 Commodore? Is he still in place? Were either/both of the ships with the CARGRU/STRIKEGRU/CTF70? What about those commanders? Why 7thFLT? Why not PACFLT, too? McCain CO? Is he still in charge of that ship? Why did it take a flippin month or more to can the Fitzgerald CO? Should have been measured in hours, not weeks. I was on a ship that ran aground at 2:30 in the morning....routine ops...CO was asleep in his cabin. He was helo'd off by 1700 that same day and replaced by the Deputy Commodore

not a good confidence building look for the most powerful Navy in the world...should we also look at the wisdom of routine maneuvers of some of our largest vessels in some of the narrowest and busiest waterways?

McCain and Fitz are some of our 'smallest vessels' ...and as maneuverable as anything afloat longer than 50 feet.

And the mission of the US Navy is to maintain freedom of the seas for the commercial shipping into and out of those busy ports. The Navy operates into, out of, and from places like Singapore and Tokyo.....We've had bases (and ports of operation) in all the busiest ports of the world outside of perhaps mainland China, India and Russia for...ever. Avoiding places with other ships is not the answer.

The vice admiral that was dismissed was already set to retire "in a couple weeks." He probably already has a civilian position lined up. He ain't hurt, it's just for show.

I get that...I'm thinking that the local FD's do not routinely drive through some of the busiest places, even when drilling, unless there is an emergency...just thinking aloud...


...is there a possibility any of these collisions were intentional...just seems improbable that there can be a cluster of them like this...

Hope I didn't come off snippy....you're correct about where local ops are conducted. Or at least 'were' when I was driving...the only time were in port channel/shipping lanes was getting in and out. We high-tailed it out of the lanes before we started cutting circles in the ocean. I would doubt very much that either ship was loitering in the Straits of Malacca or outside Tokyo...could certainly be wrong about that, tho.

Can't wrap my brain around 'intentional'...nor the suggestion that our ships might have been 'hacked'.

A huge commercial vessel is just about the worst possible weapon against a destroyer that I could imagine....highly UNmaneuverable and very expensive to take off-line and repair...I suppose some rogue captain with a wild hair up his azz could do it during close ops in a strait/channel, but for an actual attack, small boats, ala Cole would be much more effective, easy, reliable...I'd think

Sorry, but I will have to leave USN answers up to you, MACS and Ron. Wrong branch for me.

Did hear today that the Fitz is headed to the gulf coast for repairs.

Just saw they fired the Head ( or Vice?) Admiral of the 7th Fleet ? ....

Man...I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING...

With TRUMP @ the helm now and all his
"THE APPRENTICE" expertise...
He's going ALL LAND ( white house staff), Sea ( this Naval guy) AND AIR ( next, PROLLY the AirForce One pilot when he bangs Ivanka in the Luggage hold)....

BWUHAHAHAHAHA!!!

You didn't...not to me...I'm interested in your take, since I do not know a stitch about naval matters...just trying to determine the purpose for those routes and whether the objectives are worth the loss of lives...