Experts Criticize ATF, Navy Finding on Cause of Bonhomme Richard Fire; Case Against Sailor Pending U

[rangerrebew]

Experts Criticize ATF, Navy Finding on Cause of Bonhomme Richard Fire; Case Against Sailor Pending U.S. 3rd Fleet Decision
By: Gidget Fuentes
December 20, 2021 6:48 PM • Updated: December 21, 2021 5:10 PM
 

SAN DIEGO – An expert in electrical engineering told a Navy court that an electrical short in a forklift or some faulty batteries could have sparked the fire that ultimately led the service to scrap the former USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), countering the Navy’s acceptance from a federal fire investigation that a disgruntled sailor deliberately set it.

Andrew Thoresen, a forensics engineer, said that in a limited, four-hour visit to the ship’s lower vehicle deck one year ago, he found a wire in a forklift’s main conductor feed had a “globule” of melted copper wires.

Such a globule likely was the result of a “localized spot” of arcing activity that would generate high heat by touching the metal framing, ignite nearby flammable materials strewn about the stowage area “and cause the damage we have in this case,” Thoresen testified Wednesday at the Article 32 preliminary hearing for Seaman Apprentice Ryan Mays, accused of hazarding a vessel and aggravated arson in the July 12, 2020 fire aboard Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego. 

https://news.usni.org/2021/12/20/experts-criticize-atf-navy-finding-on-cause-of-bonhomme-richard-fire-case-against-sailor-pending-u-s-3rd-fleet-decision

[sneakypete]

An expert in electrical engineering told a Navy court that an electrical short in a forklift or some faulty batteries could have sparked the fire that ultimately led the service to scrap the former USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6)

"COULD have" is NOT the same thing as "did". A mouse could have chewed through the insulation on a cable,too.

These people are just hired "guns" being paid by the defense to try to provide enough doubt to get their client off,that's all they are.

[Smokin Joe]

"COULD have" is NOT the same thing as "did". A mouse could have chewed through the insulation on a cable,too.

These people are just hired "guns" being paid by the defense to try to provide enough doubt to get their client off,that's all they are.

Just doing their job. Doesn't mean it will work.

[rangerrebew]

The Russkies just had a major fire aboard an aircraft carrier type ship while under construction.  It might be interesting to see what the similarities are.

[sneakypete]

The Russkies just had a major fire aboard an aircraft carrier type ship while under construction.  It might be interesting to see what the similarities are.

@rangerrebew

Don't they consider ship fires to be a normal part of carrier construction? Last I  heard,they sold a carrier to the Chinese several years ago,and the Chinese have never been able to get the damn thing out of the port since it was delivered.

Communism is NOT known for producing creative people.