A Question for Sailors
- Thread starter smstonypoint
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Kentuckyfarmer
Gold Member
I don't believe that was the Indy that hit the Belnap. Was Nov 22 1975 10 min after the even prayer in the Med. I was in my rack and the collision alarm went off. Was the USS John F Kennedy and took the top off the Belnap. Went under our angle deck. I think 17 on the Belnap died that night an one aboard the Kennedy. The next morning we were still fighting fires from the 01 to the 03 level store rooms below cats 3 and 4 and they were launching aircraft off cats 1 and 2. In 1976 was giving the USS Bordalon (not sure about the spelling) a little drink of fuel and the Bordalon had a steering causality and we did a emergency break away but couldn't get away fast enough and they tried to park the can in our hanger bay. One person on the Bordalon was crushed and killed.
RoyJackson
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You're right...it was the Kennedy...my mistake.
I saw the Belknap (we both left the "k" out) during a port of call while stationed on the USS Inchon. I'm pretty sure this was in Naples, It.
As I'm sure you're aware, the ship's superstructure was virtually destroyed...not much left above the main deck.
From, and more at:
Cruiser Photo Index DLG/CG 26 USS BELKNAP - Navsource - Photographic History of the U.S. Navy
Bruce
Cruiser Photo Index DLG/CG 26 USS BELKNAP - Navsource - Photographic History of the U.S. Navy
Bruce
robertsa
Silver Member
Allowing people to sleep would be a good start in correcting these problems.
OP
smstonypoint
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The Navy has issued a report on the Fitzgerald and McCain collisions: http://s3.amazonaws.com/CHINFO/USS+Fitzgerald+and+USS+John+S+McCain+Collision+Reports.pdf.
Steve
Steve
k0ua
Epic Contributor
The Officer of the Deck, the person responsible for safe navigation of the ship, exhibited poor
seamanship by failing to maneuver as required, failing to sound the danger signal and failing to
attempt to contact CRYSTAL on Bridge to Bridge radio. In addition, the Officer of the Deck did
not call the Commanding Officer as appropriate and prescribed by Navy procedures to allow him
to exercise more senior oversight and judgment of the situation.
The remainder of the watch team on the bridge failed to provide situational awareness and
input to the Officer of the Deck regarding the situation. Additional teams in the Combat
Information Center (CIC), an area on where tactical information is fused to provide maximum
situational awareness, also failed to provide the Officer of the Deck input and information.
Looks like everyone "asleep at the switch". Sad, but some severe dereliction of duty.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
8.4 Fatigue
The command leadership allowed the schedule of events preceding the collision to fatigue
the crew.
The command leadership failed to assess the risks of fatigue and implement mitigation
measures to ensure adequate crew rest.
This assessment of USS FITZGERALD is not intended to imply that CRYSTAL mistakes and
deficiencies were not also factors in the collision.
RoyJackson
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Based upon that report, I expect to see both early retirements and a few courts martials as a result.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
Yup...
