Navy to relieve admiral in charge of Japan-based fleet in response to deadly disasters at sea

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

By Dan Lamothe August 22 at 10:17 PM

The Navy will relieve the admiral in charge of the service’s 7th Fleet based in Japan in response to four embarrassing accidents this year, two of which killed sailors at sea, two U.S. officials said.

Vice Adm. Joseph P. Aucoin will be removed from his job formally Wednesday, the officials said. The incidents include the deadly collision Monday of the destroyer USS John S. McCain with a much heavier oil tanker off Singapore, and a June 17 accident in which the destroyer USS Fitzgerald was ripped open by a larger Japanese container ship.

Seven sailors were killed in the Fitzgerald disaster, and at least some of the 10 sailors reported missing from the McCain are dead, Adm. Scott Swift, the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, said Tuesday.

Aucoin has been the 7th Fleet commander since September 2015, and was previously the deputy chief of naval operations for warfare systems. His removal, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, is the highest profile in the Navy since the disasters occurred.

-snip-


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/08/22/in-the-navy-a-premier-surface-fleet-faces-new-scrutiny-after-deadly-disasters-at-sea/

[underpants]

1. Lots of careers ending as they should.

Some tremendous f ups.

[GP6971]

2. You just knew this was

going to happen.

[lapfog_1]

3. I don't think this ends with this

I think more up the food chain will have to depart.

[xor]

4. I wouldn't if we will ever know any of the details

[nitpicker]

5. Link to Military Times

http://www.militarytimes.com/breaking-news/2017/08/23/us-pacific-fleet-boss-sacks-three-star-fleet-commander-after-a-rash-of-incidents/

[nitpicker]

6. Pre-dawn crash number 2

For those claiming that there was enough natural light to see:

The crash was reported as being about 0524 Singapore (summer) time.

Singapore is (1.3 N) almost on the equator. Sunrise is now occurring about 7 am.

Therefore, it was over 1/12 hours before dawn when the crash occurred.

[Number9Dream]

7. Do these Navy ships not have radar? How does this happen in 2017?

[Eugene]

8. It is known to happen when crews of both ships think they have the right of way.

[MineralMan]

9. There is a clear responsibility to give way to prevent a collision.

Insisting on having the right of way is always a mistake if a collision results.