U.S. Navy Sailors transit the hangar bay towards a simulated fire during an in-port emergency drill aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in Norfolk, Virginia, Oct. 24, 2020. US Navy Photo
After losing an amphibious warship to a fire, the Navy will elevate the head of service safety to a two-star billet and create a new oversight board meant to improve fire safety throughout the fleet. Read More
The following are the command investigation into the July 12, 2020 fire aboard the former USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) and the Major Fires Review. The pair of reports were released on Oct. 20. Read More
Sailors evacuated from USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) on July 12, 2020. US Navy Photo
A cascade of failures – from a junior enlisted sailor not recognizing a fire at the end of their duty watch to fundamental problems with how the U.S. Navy trains sailors to fight fires in shipyards – are responsible for the five-day blaze that cost the service an amphibious warship, according to an investigation into the July 2020 USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) fire reviewed by USNI News. Read More
Damage Controlman 2nd Class Aracely Morales, center, assigned to San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD-24), trains sailors assigned to San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28) on Aug. 14, 2021. US Na
vy Photo
ABOARD THE LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP USS KANSAS CITY, OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA – The Navy has made several adjustments to its practices aboard surface ships and at shipyards in the wake of the fire that gutted an amphibious warship last year. Read More
An MH-60S Seahawk helicopter from the “Merlins” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3, provides aerial firefighting support alongside sailors and civilian fire crews on the ground to fight the fire aboard amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) on July 13, 2020. US Navy Photo
A federal search warrant filing was unsealed this week in the case of a sailor the Navy officially charged last week with setting the fire that devastated the former USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), rendering the amphibious assault ship unsalvageable. Read More
Federal firefighters assess damage in the hangar bay aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) on July 15, 2020. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated with additional details of the sailor accused of starting the fire aboard the former Bonhomme Richard (LHA-6).
The Navy has filed charges against a sailor for allegedly deliberately starting a fire last year that quickly spread and consumed much of the interior of amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), the service announced Thursday. Read More
A firefighter working on the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) fire on July 15, 2020. US Navy Photo
THE PENTAGON – Lessons from the fire that took out a 40,000-ton U.S. warship are trickling out into the fleet a year after the blaze, the head of U.S. Naval Surface Force told reporters this week. Read More
Screenshot of YouTube video from May 31, 2021 of the hull of Bonhomme Richard arriving in the Port of Brownsville, Texas.
The hull of the former amphibious warship Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) has arrived at the yard of a Texas shipbreaker for dismantling, the shipyard confirmed to USNI News. Read More
Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) hulk northbound in the Panama Canal in the Agua Clara Locks on May 11, 2021. Photo via Twitter
The hull of the former amphibious warship Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) is in the Caribbean Sea after transiting the Panama Canal, according to data from ship tracker Marine Traffic. Read More
Former Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) towed from Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on April 15, 2021.
This post has been updated to include a copy of the contract with International Shipbreaking LTD.
The hull of the former amphibious warship Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) is approaching the Panama Canal on the way to a Texas shipbreaker for dismantling, USNI News has learned. Read More
