What's up with the US Navy?

[47WimanND]

Two collisions with merchant ships in the far east in a relatively short time.

With all of the sonar/radar systems we have how is this possible? Is the dumbing down of America now catching up with our military? These men/women should be trained better than this.

Or could something more sinister be at play? Could Chinese or NK operatives or cyber warfare experts be either directly involved or tampering with our ships systems?

Either way we are now down two destroyers in a very volatile part of the Pacific.

Prayers to those who lost their life or were injured on both ships.

 

[deadirishpoet]

Two collisions with merchant ships in the far east in a relatively short time.

With all of the sonar/radar systems we have how is this possible? Is the dumbing down of America now catching up with our military? These men/women should be trained better than this.

Or could something more sinister be at play? Could Chinese or NK operatives or cyber warfare experts be either directly involved or tampering with our ships systems?

Either way we are now down two destroyers in a very volatile part of the Pacific.

Prayers to those who lost their life or were injured on both ships.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

There are protocols. I have been on alot of ships, but noway near my brethren in the US Navy.
I hope someone with more knowledge about the do's and don'ts in regards to ship movements can reply

 

[rgc7]

It is certainly very strange, and I had the same thoughts !

 

[deadirishpoet]

It is certainly very strange, and I had the same thoughts !

Us grunts get alot of the headlines , but those sailor boys do a lot of the heavy lifting in keeping World Peace

 

[rgc7]

Just an aside, a few years ago some friends of mine met a survivor of the Indianapolis ( that has just been found where it sunk. I exchanged signed books with him, and in his book he describes how it was for the survivors
Floating around for days as they not only became exhausted and floated helplessly as they were attacked
By sharks. It was a living hell for days until the survivors were finally rescued.
God Bless all our Service Men and Women !

 

[47WimanND]

Us grunts get alot of the headlines , but those sailor boys do a lot of the heavy lifting in keeping World Peace

No one is questioning their dedication and bravery and they all certainly deserve God's blessings.

But we don't build these ships to collide with merchant vessels. Something is going wrong that is either systems related, personnel related or foreign covert activity related and we need to find out why and stop this from happening.

Evidently the Navy found that the leadership on the USS Fitzgerald were at least partially at fault. Or perhaps they are scapegoating them which would be completely unfair.

 

[IRISHJD98]

Prayers for all these young men.

I hope they figure it out soon. My son's been spending a lot of time on floating around on ships lately getting ready for a deployment with his MEU. None of these young men signed up to get rammed by merchant ships.

 

[rgc7]

Prayers for all these young men.

I hope they figure it out soon. My son's been spending a lot of time on floating around on ships lately getting ready for a deployment with his MEU. None of these young men signed up to get rammed by merchant ships.

My thanks to your family and your son ! Hopefully, our Navy get that ramming problem resolved ?

 

[deadirishpoet]

Prayers for all these young men.

I hope they figure it out soon. My son's been spending a lot of time on floating around on ships lately getting ready for a deployment with his MEU. None of these young men signed up to get rammed by merchant ships.

My thanks to your son service and dedication to this great nation

 

[IRISHJD98]

My thanks to your son service and dedication to this great nation

Thanks. Having him serve right now makes me aware of how lucky we are to have so many very young men and women delaying their personal gratification to serve this great country.

They're sorely missed by their families.

 

[IRISHJD98]

T
Or could something more sinister be at play? Could Chinese or NK operatives or cyber warfare experts be either directly involved or tampering with our ships systems?

I know absolutely nothing about it, but I'd be curious to know about the security of systems on merchant ships.

 

[NDIRISH53]

Us grunts get alot of the headlines , but those sailor boys do a lot of the heavy lifting in keeping World Peace

Marines do all the fightin navy does all the f******

 

[47WimanND]

Marines do all the fightin navy does all the f******

I thought they were called NAVY SEALS. Seems like they do plenty of fighting. Anyone who puts on a US military uniform deserves praise.

 

[NDIRISH53]

I thought they were called NAVY SEALS. Seems like they do plenty of fighting. Anyone who puts on a US military uniform deserves praise.

That's what my grandpop who was in the navy used to say to my marine cousins

 

[deadirishpoet]

That's what my grandpop who was in the navy used to say to my marine cousins

I have heave the saying

 

[Domer7]

First, let's "deep six" the nonsense being peddled in some of the usual circles that the Russians are doing it. Previous posters very accurately commented on and outlined the protocols, procedures and navigational aids that should have prevented this. IMHO it's now down to the human factor. Simply put, put military readiness has been severely compromised by two bit political decisions and policies made over the previous eight years by a clueless Administration. In addition to the deplorable condition of war fighting equipment, billions of dollars and irreplaceable training time and assets have been redirected into the effort to force unneeded "socially correct" elements into front line fighting units. A truly deplorable situation our dedicatedly profession forces are trying to subsist in.

 

[deadirishpoet]

First, let's "deep six" the nonsense being peddled in some of the usual circles that the Russians are doing it. Previous posters very accurately commented on and outlined the protocols, procedures and navigational aids that should have prevented this. IMHO it's now down to the human factor. Simply put, put military readiness has been severely compromised by two bit political decisions and policies made over the previous eight years by a clueless Administration. In addition to the deplorable condition of war fighting equipment, billions of dollars and irreplaceable training time and assets have been redirected into the effort to force unneeded "socially correct" elements into front line fighting units. A truly deplorable situation our dedicatedly profession forces are trying to subsist in.

Well stated.

 

[deadirishpoet]

I was an underway Officer of the Deck (OOD) onboard an Aegis Class Cruiser during Operation Endur ing Freedom and can tell you that it comes down to decision making in times like these. I was in many situations where a decision had to be made 'on the spot' and you would be surprised how that pressure can freeze a person.

My first experience with near catastrophe was as a Junior OOD. My Captain didn't trust the OOD and put me in his watch so I could bring some thought to the way he was driving the ship. One night, we were following the carrier in 'plane guard' which is 2,000 yards (one nautical mile) behind the carrier. There was a merchant vessel CBDR (constant bearing, decreasing range) to the carrier and not a word was spoken on BtB (bridge to bridge radio).

I looked at the OOD and said, "Brian, call the Captain now and get him on the bridge." He said he would in a bit. I said "now" or I will call him. So, Brian called him and we watched as the train-wreck was unfolding. Then, out of nowhere, the carrier must have gone Full Rudder to miss the merchant and we were staring straight at it.

I watched as the Captain and OOD just stood there in disbelief. That's when I turned to the Conn and said, "all engines ahead one third. (slow to 5 knots)" He passed it to the helm and the order was executed. Once the ordeal was over the Captain ripped me in front of the entire bridge team saying that was not my authority to give the order.

I felt bad for jumping in like that but the very next day the Captain came up to me and said he is ready for me to be an OOD. I replaced Brian and took over his watch team. And, a few weeks later we were doing our brief for going into port and the Captain said, "if you are ever in doubt of what to do on the deck then put your engines at one third and that will give you the time to figure it out."

I finished out that deployment as an OOD. The Captain never let me leave the bridge and ran all of his JOs (junior officers) through my team. I have a belief that there is no way possible for a Navy ship to collide at sea since Navy ships are like driving a Corvette on the water.

I have actually been on one of those bad boys. Very fast, nice missile system.
We were bouncing from Cruiser/Destroyer's/and Carriers in a CH 53 Sea Stallion during night ops

 

[IRISHJD98]

Speaking of Russia, I read that they had a spy ship that was sunk by a sheep carrying merchant ship this year.

 

[shabak]

First, let's "deep six" the nonsense being peddled in some of the usual circles that the Russians are doing it. Previous posters very accurately commented on and outlined the protocols, procedures and navigational aids that should have prevented this. IMHO it's now down to the human factor. Simply put, put military readiness has been severely compromised by two bit political decisions and policies made over the previous eight years by a clueless Administration. In addition to the deplorable condition of war fighting equipment, billions of dollars and irreplaceable training time and assets have been redirected into the effort to force unneeded "socially correct" elements into front line fighting units. A truly deplorable situation our dedicatedly profession forces are trying to subsist in.

Amen to that