KGOldWolf

How can a ship-of-the-line Arleigh-Burke class destroyer have been rammed by a cargo ship?

I've read some explanations which make sense to me and I find the possibility deeply concerning. Before I share that unverified information, what do you think really happened?

(Here's a chance for us all to post something without feeling the need to attack one another - at least I hope so!)

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I'd be interested in what you've read? All i've seen was the couple nights of news reporting. So, based on that and eight years of riding submarines, a statement from the maritime logs come to mind, "the vast majority of collisions at sea are between ships who knew each other were out there the entire time." Since a destroyer/cruiser should be yielding right of way to the less maneuverable cargo ship, I believe the burden fell on the Fitzgerald to "get out of the way." The OOD was likely a junior officer with equally skilled helmsman and lookouts. Also, minimal manning during the mid-watch. Did the cargo ship have running lights on? Bottom line, whether the cargo was in the right place at the wrong time or some other combination, the Fitzgerald had the responsibility to yield right of way and stay out of the way. Her Captain will take the hit on this one.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Assuming that it was not intentional (which it may have been) accidents happen. A few seconds of inattention can mean the difference between a near miss and a crash.

KGOldWolf

As I said, there are a variety of unverified reports but this article in a British news paper raises questions that are serious concerns. There is a sizable group of people saying this was a result of an "EMP bomb" that affected both the Fitzgerald and the Arleigh-Burke destroyer USS Cook several years ago in the Baltic Sea. Bear in mind that there are groups of people who believe the lunar landing was a hoax, that there was no Holocaust, and that Lee Harvey Oswald didn't work alone. If you follow the cruise pattern of the ASX Cyrstal, it is not a straight line and turned directly into the USS Fitzgerald for no apparent reason.....

Just saying that, while unverified, it seems a more reasonable explanation than what we have seen in our papers.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/793548/world-war-3-russia-electronic-bomb-jamming-vladimir-putin-us-navy

Ol' Frank Loc: Orlando,

Very interesting problems for someone to solve. I am waiting to hear someone's excuse.

jzehaz Loc: Pleasantville, NY

SOP on Navy ships is that the CO writes "Night Orders" instructing the OOD to do specific things during the evening watches. One common action item that all CO's I ever had put in their "Night Orders" is for the evening OOD's to alert them (get the CO up and notify him/her) if any ship comes within a certain CPA (closest point of approach). This is typically 2000yds (a nautical mile) or greater - depending on the confidence the CO has in his OOD's and intensity of local shipping traffic. That the CO was in his bunk when the USS Fitzgerald was hit and not on the bridge is very strange and implies to me that the OOD/Bridge team may have screwed up. On watch would have been the Port/Stbd/aft lookouts, junior OOD, OOD, quartermaster, helmsman, lee helmsman. Doesn't matter what the ASX Crystal did. These gas turbine powered ships are like race cars. I don't get it.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Did it hit an ice burg?
Was the Unsinkable Molly Brown on board?
That would have been enough to doom any ship!!! LoL
SS