2 Top Officers of Navy Ship John S. McCain Are Removed

[Right_in_Virginia]

2 Top Officers of Navy Ship John S. McCain Are Removed
NY Times, Oct 10, 2017, ERIC SCHMITT

WASHINGTON — The Navy has relieved the two top officers of the destroyer John S. McCain, nearly two months after the ship collided with a tanker while approaching Singapore, leaving 10 sailors dead.

The commanding officer, Cmdr. Alfredo J. Sanchez, exercised “poor judgment,” and the executive officer, Cmdr. Jessie L. Sanchez, displayed “poor leadership of the ship’s training program,” according to a statement issued Wednesday by the Seventh Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan.

While an investigation is continuing into the Aug. 21 accident, the statement said that it was “evident the collision was preventable.” Both officers were relieved by Vice Adm. Phil Sawyer, the Seventh Fleet commander, “due to a loss of confidence.”


More: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/us/politics/navy-ship-john-s-mccain-officers-removed.html

[Right_in_Virginia]

The Hammer Falls on the USS John S. McCain Command Team
RedState, Oct 11, 2017



***

The commanding officer, Cmdr. Alfredo J. Sanchez, and executive officer, Cmdr. Jessie L. Sanchez, of the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) were relieved of their duties by Vice Adm. Phil Sawyer, Commander, Seventh Fleet, on Oct. 11. Both were relieved due to a loss of confidence.

John S. McCain was involved in a collision with the merchant vessel Alnic MC Aug. 21 that claimed the lives of 10 Sailors, injured five more, and damaged both ships.

While the investigation is ongoing, it is evident the collision was preventable, the commanding officer exercised poor judgement, and the executive officer exercised poor leadership of the ship’s training program.

Interesting side note here. The senior chief petty officer aboard the USS Fitzgerald was relieved along with the commander, executive officer, and seemingly everyone on the bridge. That was an indicator that some major breach of individual training or discipline was determined to be widespread. The chief of the USS John S. McCain seems to have evaded the axe for the time being. As the same general fact pattern of the USS Fitzgerald was present, i.e. human lookouts not seeing a huge ship bearing down on them, the collision alarm not sounded until after the collision, etc., there is an interesting, if untold, story lurking here.


More: https://www.redstate.com/streiff/2017/10/11/the-hammer-falls-on-the-uss-john-s.-mccain-command-team/

[jpsb]

I'm waiting for the results of the investigation to be released.

McCain seems pretty straight up "poor seamanship" by everyone on deck and in the bridge. Not a good sign for our surface fleet, seems poor seamanship is all to common. My guess is that McCain attempted a crossing in a busy shipping lane and got clobbered. Inexcusable, watches didn't see a huge lite up like a Christmas tree tanker closing in on the McCain? Radar missed it too? Not to mention that the tanker was broadcasting it's course and speed and USN vessels monitor said broadcasts.

Now the USN Fitzgerald is a complete mystery to me. Again no doubt poor seamanship played part. But that the heck was going on on that ship?

[skeeter]

But that the heck was going on on that ship?

[jpsb]