Today's US Navy Photos & Videos

bd popeye

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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (June 22, 2017) A crane moves the lower stern into place on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) at Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va. The second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier is now 50 percent structurally complete. (U.S. Navy photos/Released)

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bd popeye

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PACIFIC OCEAN (June 16, 2017) The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), left, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), right, conduct a replenishment-at-sea with the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Yukon (T-AO 202) in the Pacific Ocean. Nimitz is on an underway period in the U.S. 7th fleet area of operations. The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Asia Pacific routinely for more than 70 years promoting regional peace and security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elesia Patten/Released)

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ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 21, 2017) Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Aaron Jenkins secures a cargo net around an ammunition crate on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during an ammunition offload. The ship is underway during the sustainment phase of the optimized fleet response plan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jessica L. Dowell/Released)

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GREAT LAKES, Ill. (June 21, 2017) A marching element of recruits from Division 236 at Recruit Training Command (RTC) return from Recruit Receipts. Recruit Receipts takes place the first week of training and involves administration process of recruits pay, family information, and other important documents. approximately 30,000-40,000 recruits graduate annually from RTC. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Gas Turbine Systems Technician Electrical Seth Schaeffer/Released)

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CORAL SEA (June 23, 2017) Sailors aboard the Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204) receive cargo from the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) during a replenishment-at-sea. The ship and its expeditionary strike group are operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to enhance partnerships and be a ready-response for any type of contingency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Gavin Shields/Released)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (June 20, 2017) Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) secure a Mark 46 Mod 5A torpedo prior to transporting it across the flight deck. Howard is underway with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group on a scheduled deployment to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tyler Preston/Released)
 

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PACIFIC OCEAN (June 16, 2017) The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), left, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), right, conduct a replenishment-at-sea with the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Yukon (T-AO 202) in the Pacific Ocean. Nimitz is on an underway period in the U.S. 7th fleet area of operations. The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Asia Pacific routinely for more than 70 years promoting regional peace and security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elesia Patten/Released)

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ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 21, 2017) Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Aaron Jenkins secures a cargo net around an ammunition crate on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during an ammunition offload. The ship is underway during the sustainment phase of the optimized fleet response plan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jessica L. Dowell/Released)

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GREAT LAKES, Ill. (June 21, 2017) A marching element of recruits from Division 236 at Recruit Training Command (RTC) return from Recruit Receipts. Recruit Receipts takes place the first week of training and involves administration process of recruits pay, family information, and other important documents. approximately 30,000-40,000 recruits graduate annually from RTC. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Gas Turbine Systems Technician Electrical Seth Schaeffer/Released)

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CORAL SEA (June 23, 2017) Sailors aboard the Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204) receive cargo from the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) during a replenishment-at-sea. The ship and its expeditionary strike group are operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to enhance partnerships and be a ready-response for any type of contingency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Gavin Shields/Released)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (June 20, 2017) Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) secure a Mark 46 Mod 5A torpedo prior to transporting it across the flight deck. Howard is underway with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group on a scheduled deployment to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tyler Preston/Released)
 

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
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I done told ya'll....and no one was on the bridge..

Freighter Was On Autopilot When It Hit U.S. Destroyer

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June 23, 2017 5:00 am

The deadly collision between a U.S. destroyer and a container ship June 17 took place while the freighter was on autopilot, according to Navy officials.

The Philippines-flagged cargo ship ACX Crystal was under control of a computerized navigation system that was steering and guiding the container vessel, according to officials familiar with preliminary results of an ongoing Navy investigation.

Investigators so far found no evidence the collision was deliberate.

Nevertheless, an accident during computerized navigation raises the possibility the container ship's computer system could have been hacked and the ship deliberately steered into the USS Fitzgerald, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer.

A more likely explanation is that collision was the result of an autopilot malfunction, or the autopilot's warning signals, used to notify the ship's operators, were missed.

The destroyer was severely damaged when the protruding undersea bow of the cargo ship struck Fitzgerald on the right side. Seven sailors died as a result and the captain and two others were injured. It was the Navy's worst accident at sea.

The two ships hit about 64 miles off the coast of Japan.

The collision occurred at around 1:30 a.m. local time but was not reported by the freighter's crew until around 2:25 a.m. Investigators believe the time lag was the result of the crew not realizing they had hit another ship.

Commercial ship autopilot systems normally require someone to input manually the course for the ship travel. The computer program then steers the ship by controlling the steering gear to turn the rudder.

The system also can be synchronized with an electronic chart system to allow the program to follow courses of a voyage plan.

Tracking data broadcast from the Crystal as part of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) shows the ship changed course by 90 degrees to the right and slightly reduced its speed between around 1:32 a.m. and 1:34 a.m. After that time, the data shows the ship turned to the left and resumed a northeastern coarse along its original track line.

Private naval analyst Steffan Watkins said the course data indicates the ship was running on autopilot. "The ACX Crystal powered out of the deviation it performed at 1:30, which was likely the impact with the USS Fitzgerald, pushing it off course while trying to free itself from being hung on the bow below the waterline," Watkins told the Free Beacon.

The ship then continued to sail on for another 15 minutes, increasing speed before eventually reducing speed and turning around. "This shows the autopilot was engaged because nobody would power out of an accident with another ship and keep sailing back on course. It’s unthinkable," he added.

Watkins said the fact that the merchant ship hit something and did not radio the coast guard for almost 30 minutes also indicates no one was on the bridge at the time of the collision.

By 2:00 a.m., the freighter had turned around and headed back to the earlier position, according to the tracking data.

a little more..this is most important..

For the Navy, investigators are trying to determine why the ship's radar and other sensors did not detect the Crystal in time to take steps to avoid the collision.

The Fitzgerald is equipped with the AN/SPS-64 advanced military navigation radar, and also uses a commercial radar system to enhance the shipping traffic picture of ships in its vicinity.

Navy ships operate radar systems to detect approaching ships or submarines. Lookouts posted on the bridge are responsible for detecting ships that pose a risk of collision.

Additionally, all commercial ships over 300 tons are required under international rules to operate AIS location data. AIS information from Crystal should have been monitored by sailors on the bridge of the Fitzgerald.

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Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
I done told ya'll....and no one was on the bridge..

Freighter Was On Autopilot When It Hit U.S. Destroyer


a little more..this is most important..

For the Navy, investigators are trying to determine why the ship's radar and other sensors did not detect the Crystal in time to take steps to avoid the collision.

The Fitzgerald is equipped with the AN/SPS-64 advanced military navigation radar, and also uses a commercial radar system to enhance the shipping traffic picture of ships in its vicinity.

Navy ships operate radar systems to detect approaching ships or submarines. Lookouts posted on the bridge are responsible for detecting ships that pose a risk of collision.

Additionally, all commercial ships over 300 tons are required under international rules to operate AIS location data. AIS information from Crystal should have been monitored by sailors on the bridge of the Fitzgerald.

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Aen.

Even if the cargo ship was hacked and steered at the Fitz...which is the worst case scenario on that end...the Burke DDG is nimble and fast and should have seen it coming and been able to void it.

I fear that the discipline and operations on the bridge, the CIC, and the watch standing was not at all what it should have been.

If so, there are going to be some "Masts" over this and some people's careers will be over...are probably over any way.

But for Heaven's sake...seven of their compadres are also dead.
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
The Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS-4) Participates in U.S. and Philippine naval forces bilateral maritime exercise Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Sama Sama 2017, June 19-25 in the vicinity of Cebu, Philippines.
 

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
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Thanks for you post Jeff. My main concern with this collision is that Fitzgerald seem not to be able to see the merchant ship. WTH was going on.? They have the best radar in the World. What happened? ..apparently it will be sometime before we find out.
 
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