Seven missing after USS Fitzgerald collides with merchant ship off Japan

[JakeTheSnake]

USN destroyer runs into cargo ship of Japanese coast. How does this happen?
Prayers for the injured and missing sailors!

[oohrah]

Pure Speculation: Night time at sea always hazardous, especially in busy shipping lanes. Young Officer of the Deck confused about Rules of the Road? The Fitzgerald was struck on the starboard side, therefore, probably did not have right of way.

"A collision at sea can ruin your whole day" - Thucydides, 400 BC (altho this reference has been discredited).

[Abraham]

Are all the missing U.S. or were some the Japanese also missing?

[Liberty]

After looking at pics of both ships, I doubt if the Cargo ship lost any people. These ships don't have many people on board, Maybe a half dozen. it didn't look like there was any breeches to the hull or topside.

The Destroyer had the hull breeched and damages near the command bridge. , and has more people running around in different areas. From the visuals the freighter hit the destroyer broadside.

[Scott B.]

The two berthing compartments are the biggest worry. They'll probably find them there. Not the first or last collision in those waters south of major port facilities of Tokyo, Yokosuka, Yokohama.

[Scott B.]

A tragic loss of life that should not have happened. Keep those families and their shipmates in your prayers.

Hate to think about the bottom line, but several careers are toast and the impact to the Navy mission is significant. She was a forward deployed asset. The Navy is short of ships as it is and has wasted budget/years/manpower on the failed LCS program. They fixed the Stark, Roberts, and Cole...I guess they'll fix the Fitzgerald as it's cheaper than building a replacement.

I had almost no sea time in 4 years of naval service, but will confess this scenario of being in my bunk and trapped (collision or torpedo/missile strike) made for a nightmare or two. I blame reading all those WWII submarine war books as a kid.