USS JOHN S McCAIN (DDG 56) in Collision

[Jiminvirginia]

Oddly it doesnt seem to matter if "they knew it was there". If you look back at some of the worst maritime collisions they occured when they knew where everybody was.

[togor]

Too much reliance on computers I think. Makes you think about those WW2 convoys that could zig under blackout conditions. Navy, CG and Merchant Mariners.

[Jiminvirginia]

Too much reliance on computers I think. Makes you think about those WW2 convoys that could zig under blackout conditions. Navy, CG and Merchant Mariners.

Good point. And the vast majority of those cranky old merchants had no radar. On the other hand...my dad told stories of running up on the beach while on a troop transport "you should have seen the faces of the people in the cars" and almost hitting some huge ship at night going into thre Med. So stuff did happen.

[Mark in Ottawa]

Yes it really does look like a direct hit from a bulbous bow. The only surprise is that the bow of the merchantman did not cut into the side of the destroyer. From the marks on the paint it looks as if the bow touched but did not penetrate.

[Jiminvirginia]

Apparently these are tough ships. Reading about some collisions involving Navy destroyers the destroyer often got cut in half. Good damage control by the crews too.

[barretcreek]

Late 70s? didn't a destroyer run under the bow of a CV?

[Oyaji]

Late 70s? didn't a destroyer run under the bow of a CV?

You're probably thinking of either the USS FRANK EVANS or possibly the cruiser USS BELKNAP.....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne%E2%80%93Evans_collision

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Belknap_%28CG-26%29

[Oyaji]

Navy orders pause in operations, safety review after collision

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/08/21/navy-orders-pause-operations-safety-review-after-uss-john-s-mccain-collision/586163001/

[Chris W.]

I remember seeing the stern section of the USS Frank Evans tied up to the pier in Subic bay for almost a year before being taken away. Couldn't help but wonder how something so foolish and deadly happened. I also remember several near misses we had on the USS Mars while operating off the coast of VN. Port and starboard bridge lookout watches did indeed miss big stuff. These days, seeing all of these collisions, I can't help but wonder if the lookout watches are still a manned position ?? Could the new era bridge watch be glued to some sort of screen and not be looking outside at the real world at all ?? I guess in this new age that accidents still happen, new technology and all, but it still comes down to lack of qualified command personal serving on the bridge. Like it or not, heads need to roll on this one, no excuse for it. Number one job of the captain and his officers is to keep the ship and crew safe, if they can't, they don't belong at sea.
Chris

[jjrothWA]

What Flag(s) were the container ship and tanker operating under?? Mainland China???? Sound suspicion to me.

If shafat alley flooded, did the shiip roll that far to suffer damage or is the "alley" not enclosed?

[Dolt]

I remember seeing the stern section of the USS Frank Evans tied up to the pier in Subic bay for almost a year before being taken away. Couldn't help but wonder how something so foolish and deadly happened. I also remember several near misses we had on the USS Mars while operating off the coast of VN. Port and starboard bridge lookout watches did indeed miss big stuff. These days, seeing all of these collisions, I can't help but wonder if the lookout watches are still a manned position ?? Could the new era bridge watch be glued to some sort of screen and not be looking outside at the real world at all ?? I guess in this new age that accidents still happen, new technology and all, but it still comes down to lack of qualified command personal serving on the bridge. Like it or not, heads need to roll on this one, no excuse for it. Number one job of the captain and his officers is to keep the ship and crew safe, if they can't, they don't belong at sea.
Chris

Take the personal devices away from the crew and have them use their Mk 1 eyeballs to keep watch. That's how you do it.

[Chris W.]

I can't help but wonder if half of the bridge watch was on their smart phones playing games or watching porn while they still had cell service. I'm with Dolt on this one, if the watch can't keep the ship safe watching some new CRT device, it's time to go back to old school eyeballs. The thing that I think needs investigating is why this sudden rash of collisions at sea ?? Can't think of a single captain that I served under that I liked, but I have to give them credit for their most important function, they got me and the boat home.
Chris

[dryheat]

There thousands of space satellites flying around above us. Not one has collided with another. OK, it's a way bigger space to work with and space nerds are in charge. The world is changing. Shipping is like airlines. It's Manhattan. If your are going to drive great big chunks of metal around in very congested water with a slow response time, expect to play bumper cars.