Worse than you thought: inside the secret Fitzgerald probe the Navy doesn’t want you to read

Navy Times ^ | Jan. 14, 2019, 8:43 AM | Geoff Ziezulewicz,

[daniel1212]

.. so much worse than previously thought.

A scathing internal Navy probe into the 2017 collision that drowned seven sailors on the guided-missile destroyer Fitzgerald details a far longer list of problems plaguing the vessel, its crew and superior commands than the service has publicly admitted.

Obtained by Navy Times, the "dual-purpose investigation" was overseen by Rear Adm. Brian Fort and completed 11 days after the June 17, 2017 tragedy.

Their report documents the routine, almost casual, violations of standing orders on a Fitz bridge that often lacked skippers and executive officers, even during potentially dangerous voyages at night through busy waterways.

The probe exposes how personal distrust led the officer of the deck, Lt. j.g. Sarah Coppock, to avoid communicating with the destroyer's electronic nerve center — the combat information center, or CIC— while the Fitzgerald tried to cross a shipping superhighway.

When Fort walked into the trash-strewn CIC in the wake of the disaster, he was hit with the acrid smell of urine. He saw kettlebells on the floor and bottles filled with pee. Some radar controls didn't work and he soon discovered crew members who didn't know how to use them anyway.

Fort found a Voyage Management System that generated more "trouble calls" than any other key piece of electronic navigational equipment. Designed to help watchstanders navigate without paper charts, the VMS station in the skipper's quarters was broken so sailors cannibalized it for parts to help keep the rickety system working.

Since 2015, the Fitz had lacked a quartermaster chief petty officer, a crucial leader who helps safely navigate a warship and trains its sailors — a shortcoming known to both the destroyer's squadron and Navy officials in the United States, Fort wrote.

[daniel1212]

excerpt

[CondorFlight]

Obama’s navy.

[daniel1212]

The new co-ed Navy, which consents to conducting same-sex marriages but could not avoid a forced “union” with a foreign ship.

[gaijin]

Don't miss the supplementary column at extreme right.

You will have to scroll over extra for that.

[jimtorr]

Sounds like primary responsibility on the captain, but plenty of blame to go around to all officers and senior NCOs. Also one or two layers of command above the captain.

This was Obama’s navy. Was/is this lack of care by Navy command service wide? Does the rot extend far, into other branches?

[SaveFerris]

[Obama’s navy.]

Indeed

[Mikemurphy]

I have never read such a breath taking horror about out navy. Political correctness now has killed over 20 seaman and jeopardized the security of America. This cooper woman apparently drove the ship recklessly into a busy sea lane killing 10 and causing $100,000,000 in taxpayer losses. She was ordered to take a test on her officer proficiency and she defied orders. I want to know why she is not being court Martialed and shot!!

[jimtorr]

I want to know why she is not being court Martialed and shot!!

She defied orders because she knew she could get away with it.

[jimtorr]

I see that gaijin answered my question. The rot does extend, at least somewhat, into other branches. Readiness, capability and discipline have been negatively affected.

[rktman]

Well, it sure as hell ain’t the one I was in! WOW!

[Capt. Tom]

One of my first jobs involved me working with a much older retired merchant mariner.
He told me his captain told them when on the bridge to give all military vessels a wide berth since you never knew what they were going to do. - tom,

[colorado tanker]

I know I'm a landlubber, but this is shocking to me. In my Army, a commander was expected to be awake and in active command during all critical maneuvers.

And a filthy, urine stained CIC? Sure sounds like lack of discipline.

[sport]

Mark.

[moovova]

"Obama's navy."

[Rockingham]

My father, a Kings Point graduate who was a merchant marine officer for years and a Navy officer during the Korean War, was astonished at the Fitgerald collision and immediately suspected that it was due to persistent USN slackness in standards and habits in standing watch. In the Merchant Marine, lapses in keeping watch can quickly result in getting dropped from the crew. Not so in the USN, where lines of responsibility are often unclear and lapses are not always reprimanded and corrected.

[daniel1212]

And a filthy, urine stained CIC? Sure sounds like lack of discipline.

And "bottles filled with pee" Is it actually possible that regs forbade dumping them in the ocean?

[msrngtp2002]

I was a mmcs(SW). Mostly engineroom operator. As part of the surface warfare thing in the late 70’s I recall having to learn rudimentary ship handling. Evidently the Navy has significantly reduced it’s standards. Glad I’m not there to witness it

[wjcsux]

0bama’s navy personnel were busy taking diversity training instead of learning how to navigate a warship at sea.

[laplata]

0bama’s navy personnel were busy taking diversity training instead of learning how to navigate a warship at sea.

><><

I spoke to an Army vet and she told me that she was disgusted with the emphasis on PC and diversity rather than on training.

She said if DJT corrects the BS, she might re-enlist.

[daniel1212]

More info https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2019/01/14/a-warship-doomed-by-confusion-indecision-and-ultimately-panic-on-the-bridge/?utm_source=clavis