“The 26-year-old officer of the deck, who was in charge of the destroyer at the time of the crash, had navigated the route only once before in daylight. In a panic, she ordered the Fitzgerald to turn directly into the path of the Crystal.”
She, the CO and XO, OPS and Nav should all burn for this. They are solely responsible.
Except maybe the man who chose the CO/XO team.
Who the hell puts a young girl OOD on duty to navigate the Sea of Japan at night?
Nobody but the stupid. And irresponsible.
This article was published on 6 Feb. A companion article about the McCain and the leadership in the Navy was published recently. Both are excellent and are damning of the Navy, 7th Fleet, USS Fitzgerald, maintenance and training.
The OD has already been Court Martialed, she pled guilty and remains on active duty. The Skipper awaits his Court Martial, the outcome is clear. COMMSEVENTHFLT was relieved. My uncle, a tin can sailor in the Pacific from 1940 to 1945, was the torpedo officer of the USS John D. Ford, a four stacker at the Battle of Balikpapan in Jan 1942, the first surface battle for the U.S. Navy since the Spanish American War. He commanded 4 ships during his career, two in combat. He would never have slept in his main cabin at sea, only in his sea cabin adjacent off the bridge. He would be shocked by all of this.