Tag Archives: USS John McCain

Senior Leaders Taking First Steps in Long Road to Reform Surface Navy

Senior Leaders Taking First Steps in Long Road to Reform Surface Navy

Adm. Bill Moran, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, speaks with sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73). US Navy Photo

THE PENTAGON — Senior leaders in the Navy still have more questions than answers as they move to methodically and deliberately alter the way the surface forces do business in what could be a years-long process of evaluations and reforms. Read More

More Punishments Issued for Fatal Western Pacific Destroyer Collisions; Dates Set for Initial D.C. Criminal Hearings

More Punishments Issued for Fatal Western Pacific Destroyer Collisions; Dates Set for Initial D.C. Criminal Hearings

USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) stands by before it is loaded onto the heavy lift transport vessel MV Transshelf. Transshelf will transport Fitzgerald to Pascagoula, Mississippi to complete repairs. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William McCann/Released)

THE PENTAGON – Navy leadership has issued more punishments to sailors involved in the two fatal collisions in the Western Pacific, senior service officials told USNI News on Thursday. Read More

Navy: Criminal Charges for COs, Crewmembers Likely Final Accountability Action for McCain, Fitzgerald Collisions; Initial Hearings Will be in D.C.

Navy: Criminal Charges for COs, Crewmembers Likely Final Accountability Action for McCain, Fitzgerald Collisions; Initial Hearings Will be in D.C.

USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) is loading onto the heavy lift transport vessel MV Transshelf. US Navy Photo

This post has been corrected to reflect early accountability actions taken on USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) after the collision on Aug. 21 with a merchant tanker. The commander and executive officer were removed from their positions, not the Command Master Chief. The post has also been amended to clarify the definition of negligent homicide under military law.

Criminal charges against crew members involved in the two fatal 2017 surface navy collisions that cost the lives of 17 sailors are likely the last accountability actions to be taken by the service, as the admiral overseeing the process has completed his review, Navy officials told USNI News on Wednesday. Read More

Former Fitzgerald, McCain COs Face Negligent Homicide, Dereliction of Duty Charges Over Fatal Collisions

Former Fitzgerald, McCain COs Face Negligent Homicide, Dereliction of Duty Charges Over Fatal Collisions

Former USS Fitzgerald commander Cmdr. Bryce Benson (left), Former USS John S. McCain commander Cmdr. Alfredo J. Sanchez (right). USNI News Image

This post has been updated to correct the name of the former commander of USS John S. McCain (DDG-56). The correct name is Cmdr. Alfredo J. Sanchez. This post has also been updated with a statement from the service. 

The commanders of the two guided-missile destroyers that were involved in fatal collisions with merchant ships in 2017 will face military criminal charges that include dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel and negligent homicide, USNI News has learned. Read More

SWO Boss Rowden Out Early As Part of Additional Disciplinary Actions for Fatal McCain, Fitzgerald Collisions

SWO Boss Rowden Out Early As Part of Additional Disciplinary Actions for Fatal McCain, Fitzgerald Collisions

Outoging commander of Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Vice Adm. Tom Rowden speaks with the crew of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76) on Sept. 17, 2017. US Navy Photo

The head of U.S. naval surface forces will be replaced this week following the results of an independent investigation into the two fatal collisions in the Western Pacific that claimed the lives of 17 sailors, several defense officials confirmed to USNI News this week. Read More

Strategic Review: Navy Hasn't Learned From Its Mistakes, Needs to Be Clear About Ship, Aircraft Readiness

Strategic Review: Navy Hasn’t Learned From Its Mistakes, Needs to Be Clear About Ship, Aircraft Readiness

Petty Officer 3rd Class Ross Massey, from Dunlap, Ill., stands an intelligence watch during a transit of the Strait of Hormuz aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis. US Navy Photo

THE PENTAGON – The Navy historically doesn’t learn from its mistakes, needs better command and control structures to operate the fleet, and needs to be more honest with Congress and the White House about the capabilities it can provide the nation, were key findings contained in a strategic review of the service released on Thursday. Read More

Destroyer USS Benfold Back in Yokosuka with ‘Slight Dent’ After Tug Collision

Destroyer USS Benfold Back in Yokosuka with ‘Slight Dent’ After Tug Collision

USS Benfold (DDG-65), left, and the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Pecos (T-AO-197) participate in a photo exercise during Pacific Griffin 2017 off the coast of Guam. US Navy Photo

The guided-missile destroyer that collided with a tugboat off the coast of Japan is back at its homeport on Monday, a U.S. 7th Fleet spokesperson told USNI News. Read More

Destroyer USS Benfold Damaged After Collision with Japanese Tug

Destroyer USS Benfold Damaged After Collision with Japanese Tug

USS Benfold (DDG-65) and Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) RSS Endurance (LST 207), participate in a PHOTOEX during Exercise Pacific Griffin 2017. US Navy Photo

The guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) was hit by a Japanese tug during a towing exercise on Saturday, according to a statement from U.S. 7th Fleet. Read More