New US Navy Warship, USS Montgomery, Damaged In Panama Canal

[geronl]

New US Navy Warship, USS Montgomery, Damaged In Panama Canal

A brand-new U.S. Navy warship suffered an 18-inch crack to its hull while passing through the Panama Canal en route to San Diego.

The USS Montgomery has been in service less than two months. The Independence-class littoral combat ship hit a cement structure as it headed west through the locks Saturday, the Navy said in a statement to CNN. At the time, a Panama Canal pilot was in control.

http://www.ibtimes.com/new-us-navy-warship-uss-montgomery-damaged-panama-canal-2440907


Apparently our naval hulls are made of Reynold's Wrap aluminum foil these days.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

So ramming won't be a good tactic for these ships then?

[SZonian]

Uhm, it doesn't take much of an impact to damage any hull.  Being made of aluminum definitely doesn't help, but keep in mind, these boats weren't designed to have a go at concrete.

It is the pilot or mule operator's responsibility to ensure a safe a transit.

Three ships to go through since the new expansion was completed have sustained damage...

Here's one with a steel hull...

http://gcaptain.com/containership-damaged-in-panama-canals-new-locks/

The operators of the canal are failing in their duties to keep the ships safe...

[geronl]

someone should slap a US Navy logo on that.