Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the US Navy
USS
Fitzgerald
(DDG-62)
, named for
United States Navy
officer
Lieutenant
William Charles Fitzgerald
, is an
Arleigh Burke
-class
destroyer
in the US Navy.
In the early morning hours of 17 June 2017, the ship was
involved in a collision
with the
container ship
MV
ACX Crystal
, seriously damaging the destroyer. Seven of her crew were killed. Several others were injured, including her commanding officer, Commander Bryce Benson.
Construction
[
edit
]
Fitzgerald
'
s
keel
was
laid down
by
Bath Iron Works
,
Bath, Maine
, 9 February 1993;
launched
29 January 1994; sponsored by Betty A. Fitzgerald, widow of the late Lt. Fitzgerald; and
commissioned
14 October 1995, in
Newport, Rhode Island
.
[4]
The ship was then
homeported
in
Naval Base San Diego
, California.
Service history
[
edit
]
In early April 2004, Navy officials announced plans to deploy
Fitzgerald,
14 other destroyers, and three
cruisers
to counter ballistic missile threats worldwide. The next month, she took part in a personnel exchange known as "Super Swap", taking aboard 141 sailors from the destroyer
O'Brien
and transferring 95 to join the soon-to-be-decommissioned ship's decommissioning unit.
[5]
Fitzgerald
sailed to
Yokosuka Naval Base
in
Yokosuka
, Japan, arriving on 30 September 2004, and joining the
U.S. 7th Fleet
's
Destroyer Squadron 15
.
In March 2011, in company with the
aircraft carrier
Ronald Reagan
,
Fitzgerald
was deployed off northeastern
Honshu
, Japan, to assist with relief efforts after the
2011 T?hoku earthquake and tsunami
.
[6]
[7]
[8]
On 16 November 2011, while docked in
Manila
, Philippines,
Fitzgerald
hosted
US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton
and Philippine
Foreign Affairs Secretary
Albert del Rosario
to sign the Manila Declaration, which called for multilateral talks to resolve maritime disputes and to mark the 60th anniversary of the
American?Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty
.
[9]
[10]
On 1 June 2017,
Fitzgerald
, operating out of Yokosuka Naval Base, was noted for participating in routine
exercises
with Japan that were described in the media as a show of force to North Korea. She sailed with the aircraft carrier
Ronald Reagan
, the
cruiser
Shiloh
, and the destroyers
Barry
,
McCampbell
, and
Mustin
, joined by the aircraft carrier
Carl Vinson
, cruiser
Lake Champlain
, and destroyers
Wayne E. Meyer
and
Michael Murphy
, and Japanese ships
Hy?ga
and
Ashigara
.
In May 2022,
Fitzgerald
was homeported at
Naval Station San Diego
and a part of
Destroyer Squadron 2
, along with
Carrier Strike Group 3
led by
USS
Abraham Lincoln
.
[11]
Fitzgerald
participated in
RIMPAC
2022.
[12]
2017 collision
[
edit
]
About 1:30 a.m. on 17 June 2017,
Fitzgerald
collided with
ACX Crystal
, a Philippine-flagged container ship
[13]
measured at 29,060
gross tons
and almost 40,000 tons
deadweight
. Most of
Fitzgerald
'
s crew of about 300
[14]
were asleep at the time.
[15]
The collision occurred about 56
nautical miles
(104
kilometres
; 64
miles
) southwest of her homeport of
Yokosuka
, Japan.
[13]
The starboard side of
Fitzgerald
was seriously damaged. The container ship's
bulbous bow
penetrated the destroyer's hull below the
waterline
, flooding a
machinery space
, the radio room, and two crew
berthing spaces
.
[16]
The
captain's cabin
was crushed.
[17]
Seven crewmen were reported missing after the collision, but their bodies were found the next day after rescue workers gained access to flooded compartments.
[16]
[18]
The injured include the ship's commanding officer and two sailors.
[19]
Within a day of the collision, investigations were begun by the United States Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Japanese Coast Guard,
Japan Transport Safety Board
, and the insurers of the
Crystal
. The U.S. Navy's Manual of the Judge Advocate General (JAGMAN) investigation concerns the crew's operations, and is led by Rear Adm. Brian Fort, a former commander of
USS
Gonzalez
, who now commands
Navy Region Hawaii
and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific.
[20]
[21]
[22]
The U.S. and Japanese coast guards are investigating the cause of the accident.
[23]
Steffan Watkins, a Canada-based security analyst,
[24]
[25]
created a
Google Maps
overlay for the broadcast
AIS
data points.
[26]
Including costs for planned service life extension and other upgrades, repairs for the damage to
Fitzgerald
are expected to run about $368.7 million,
[27]
and will take over a year. Repairs on the ship will overlap with planned service life extension and electronics upgrade, but despite the need to replace portions of the ship's AEGIS system the ship will remain in "a legacy configuration instead of upgrading to Baseline 9".
[28]
[29]
On 17 August 2017, the two senior officers and the senior enlisted sailor in charge of the naval vessel were relieved of their duties.
[30]
The Navy planned to discipline up to a dozen sailors, including the commanding officer, for watchstanding failures that allowed the fatal collision.
[31]
In late August 2017, it was reported that the destroyer will be transported by the
Dockwise
heavy-lift ship
MV
Transshelf
to
Huntington Ingalls Industries
’
shipyard
in Pascagoula.
[32]
[33]
[34]
It was announced in October that the vessel would not be upgraded to the latest version of the Aegis system.
[35]
On 28 November 2017, the destroyer was further damaged by two punctures to her hull during the loading process to MV
Transshelf
, compelling her to return to Yokosuka for the punctures to be repaired.
[36]
[37]
Fitzgerald
arrived at the Port of Pascagoula in Mississippi on 19 January 2018, aboard the heavy-lift transport MV
Transshelf
, after a two-month journey from Japan. She was expected to spend a few days in the port, being lifted off the transport and readied for her trip to the Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard, where she was expected to commence an estimated two year repair.
[38]
In August 2019, the
Japan Transport Safety Board
's final report concluded distraction and incomplete radar information aboard the US Navy vessel caused the accident.
[39]
On 3 February 2020, USS
Fitzgerald
exited the Pascagoula shipyard for sea trials aimed at testing all shipboard systems. Following these sea trials,
Fitzgerald
plans to return to the shipyard to correct any remaining issues and then commence crew training in preparation for its return to active duty.
[40]
On 13 June 2020 she departed Pascagoula to return to her home port in San Diego.
[41]
Awards
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
- ^
"Mk46 MOD 1 Optical Sight System"
. Kollmorgen.
Archived
from the original on 30 November 2022
. Retrieved
26 January
2023
.
- ^
Rockwell, David (12 July 2017).
"The Kollmorgen/L-3 KEO Legacy"
.
Teal Group
.
Archived
from the original on 29 May 2023
. Retrieved
29 May
2023
.
- ^
Hart, Jackie (17 December 2023).
"Decoy Launch System Installed Aboard USS Ramage"
.
navy.mil
. Archived from
the original
on 28 April 2016
. Retrieved
26 January
2023
.
- ^
Evans, Mark L. (8 July 2015).
"Fitzgerald (DDG-62)"
.
Naval History and Heritage Command
. Retrieved
18 June
2017
.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
public domain
.
- ^
"O'Brien-Fitzgerald crew swap to return sailors to Yokosuka"
.
Stars and Stripes
. Retrieved
17 April
2018
.
- ^
Rabiroff, John (17 March 2011).
"U.S. military delivers 40 tons of supplies to hardest-hit areas"
.
Stars and Stripes
. Retrieved
4 October
2015
.
- ^
"Warships Supporting Earthquake in Japan"
.
Seawaves
. Archived from
the original
on 23 March 2011.
- ^
Stewart, Joshua (14 March 2011).
"Navy ships off Japan move to avoid radiation"
.
Military Times
. Archived from
the original
on 17 March 2011
. Retrieved
4 October
2015
.
- ^
"Clinton uses warship to push Philippines alliance"
. ABS-CBN News Interactive. Agence France-Presse. 16 November 2011
. Retrieved
4 October
2015
.
- ^
"US, Philippines boost alliance amid row with China"
.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
. Associated Press. 16 November 2011
. Retrieved
4 October
2015
.
- ^
"USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: May 23, 2022"
.
USNI News
. 1 June 2022
. Retrieved
2 June
2022
.
- ^
"USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker"
. news.usni.org. 1 August 2022
. Retrieved
9 August
2022
.
- ^
a
b
Shane, Scott (18 June 2017).
"Sleeping Sailors on U.S.S. Fitzgerald Awoke to a Calamity at Sea"
.
The New York Times
. Retrieved
18 June
2017
.
- ^
Larter, David B. (18 June 2017).
"Fitzgerald crew's 'heroic efforts' saved their ship from sinking, admiral says"
.
Navy Times
. Retrieved
3 July
2017
.
- ^
"Missing sailors' bodies found in damaged USS Fitzgerald"
. So Jazeera. 18 June 2017.
- ^
a
b
"Seven sailors missing in ship collision found dead"
.
The Hill
. 17 June 2017
. Retrieved
17 June
2017
.
- ^
Gale, Alastair; Lubold, Gordon (18 June 2017).
"Deadly Collision Crushed Captain's Cabin of USS Fitzgerald"
.
The Wall Street Journal
.
- ^
"US Navy Identifies Seven Deceased Fitzgerald Sailors"
.
U.S. Navy
. 18 June 2017
. Retrieved
20 June
2017
.
- ^
Simpkins, Jon; Larter, David (16 June 2017).
"7 US sailors missing after USS Fitzgerald's catastrophic collision"
.
Navy Times
. Retrieved
17 June
2017
.
- ^
Shane, Scott (23 June 2017).
"Maritime Mystery: Why a U.S. Destroyer Failed to Dodge a Cargo Ship"
.
New York Times
. Retrieved
24 June
2017
.
- ^
"Rear Admiral Brian P. Fort: Commander, Navy Region Hawaii/Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific"
.
U.S. Navy
. 26 June 2017
. Retrieved
14 July
2017
.
- ^
Cole, William (23 June 2017).
"Incoming Hawaii Navy commander to investigate fatal collision off Japan"
.
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
. Retrieved
14 July
2017
.
- ^
Rich, Motoko (19 June 2017).
"As Sailors' Bodies Are Flown to U.S., Fitzgerald Inquiries Intensify"
.
The New York Times
. Retrieved
20 June
2017
.
- ^
Johnson, Tim (7 February 2019).
"Venezuela says plane from Miami delivered weapons for use by enemies of Maduro"
. McClatchy DC BUREAU.
Ottawa-based analyst of unusual ship and plane movements, Steffan Watkins, drew attention to the frequent flights of the 21 Air cargo plane
- ^
"U.S. Denies Russian Plane Permission for Reconnaissance Flights, Official Says"
. The Moscow Times. 12 September 2018.
Canadian-based security analyst Steffan Watkins noted that the U.S. refused to certify the Russian aircraft for "absolutely no technical or treaty-related reason."
- ^
Watkins, Steffan (26 June 2017).
"The leaked statement from the ACX Crystal's Captain is an easily disproven lie"
.
- ^
Werner, Ben (13 December 2017).
"USS John S. McCain Now in Japan for Repairs Following Deadly August Collision"
.
USNI News
. Retrieved
26 October
2020
.
- ^
Repair for USS Fitzgerald After Collision Will Cost More Than Fix to USS Cole After Terror Attack
? News.USNI.org, 27 July 2017
- ^
U.S. Navy Won't Upgrade USS Fitzgerald to Baseline 9 Aegis Combat System
? News.USNI.org, 16 October 2017
- ^
U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs (17 August 2017).
"7th Fleet Announces USS Fitzgerald Accountability Determinations"
.
U.S. Navy
. Retrieved
21 August
2017
.
{{
cite news
}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link
)
- ^
"Sailors to be Disciplined"
. Navy Times. 21 August 2017
. Retrieved
5 December
2017
.
- ^
"Huntington Ingalls Industries Selected to Repair Guided Missile Destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62)"
.
Huntington Ingalls Industries
. 23 August 2017
. Retrieved
26 August
2017
.
- ^
Burgess, Richard R. (25 August 2017).
"Navy Taps Patriot Shipping to Transport USS Fitzgerald to Pascagoula"
.
Seapower
. Archived from
the original
on 26 August 2017
. Retrieved
26 August
2017
.
- ^
"Dockwise Heavy Lift Ship Will Transport USS Fitzgerald"
.
The Maritime Executive
. 6 September 2017
. Retrieved
11 September
2017
.
- ^
LaGrone, Sam (16 October 2017).
"U.S. Navy Won't Upgrade USS Fitzgerald to Baseline 9 Aegis Combat System"
.
United States Naval Institute
. Retrieved
5 December
2017
.
- ^
"Crippled US destroyer damaged by transport ship"
. CNN. 27 November 2017
. Retrieved
29 November
2017
.
- ^
Lardieri, Alexa (28 November 2017).
"USS Fitzgerald Suffers More Damage"
.
U.S. News & World Report
. Retrieved
5 December
2017
.
- ^
"stricken-destroyer-uss-fitzgerald-arrives-mississippi-two-years-repairs"
. usni.org. 19 January 2018
. Retrieved
19 January
2018
.
- ^
"U.S. Destroyer lookouts' failure to follow protocol led to fatal 2017 collision, Japanese report says"
. 29 August 2019.
- ^
"USS Fitzgerald Returns To Sea"
. US Navy. 3 February 2020
. Retrieved
11 May
2020
.
- ^
"USS Fitzgerald En Route to San Diego"
.
Naval Sea Systems Command
. Retrieved
14 June
2020
.
- ^
Dortch, Debbie (5 February 2012).
"SECNAV Names 2012 Outstanding Food Service Ney Award Winners"
.
U.S. Navy
. Retrieved
4 October
2015
.
Sources
[
edit
]
Further reading
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
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Flight I ships
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Flight II ships
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Flight IIA ships
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variant
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5"/62 variant
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Flight III ships
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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 2017
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Shipwrecks
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Other incidents
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