Fire - USS Bonhomme Richard LHD-6 - 12 Jul 20
Forgive my ignorance but there will be no ammunition on board when works are done pierside?
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Presume that all ammo etc will have been removed before the maint. work started but fighting a fire on top of 1M gallons of fuel? - braver people than me, thats for sure; please take care. I wonder if they have started to evacuate the docks area, if that lot goes off it will be one hell of a bang.
Certainly nothing that would go up better than the 1,000,000 gallons of fuel down below. . .
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Last edited by KING6024; 13th Jul 2020 at 10:59.
How about towing her to some remote safe place and let her burn out there? Right now we have a major fire inside some huge military port with many ships next to her.
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Why would they leave 1,000,000 gallons of fuel on board during a 24 month refit? Doesn't it go off like petrol?
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The boiler is said to have exploded due to over pressure for some reason. Not sure what that necessarily has to do with fire safety practices? Maybe better wait for the report?
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If it’s shallow enough it might prevent a capsize
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
The boiler is said to have exploded due to over pressure for some reason. Not sure what that necessarily has to do with fire safety practices? Maybe better wait for the report?
”....America’s Navy has seen these scenarios play out far too many times. In 2012, America lost the multibillion-dollar attack submarine USS Miami (SSN 755) because a shipyard worker, eager to leave work early, set the sub on fire. Last year, 11 U.S. sailors were injured in a fire aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), a critical Marine-toting mini-carrier. USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) also suffered a fire in November 2018, and subsequent damage will keep the ship out of the fleet for almost two years longer than planned. According to USNI News, the USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) suffered a shipyard fire as well. In 2011, a fire torched the stacks of the USS Spruance (DDG 111). Other recent shipyard mishaps have included over $30 million worth of damage to the future destroyer Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) after a collision in April 2019. These, along with other avoidable incidents—fires at sea, groundings, collisions and other accidents—have essentially sunk or sidelined an entire U.S. battle fleet.....”
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That looks like its toast..
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/american-assault-ship-uss-bonhomme-richard-on-fire/ and the Telegraph
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/american-assault-ship-uss-bonhomme-richard-on-fire/ and the Telegraph
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One answer seems to be the report that there were only about 160 crew on board: https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-...ort-san-diego/
You'd also assume, in any case, that damage control parties, and especially those in command of them, would have different priorities and risk-assessments alongside, compared to at sea in combat.
You'd also assume, in any case, that damage control parties, and especially those in command of them, would have different priorities and risk-assessments alongside, compared to at sea in combat.
Fair argument which I also considered.
But the DOD doesn't like losing assets for any reason and will find somebody didn't do their job. Whether it is easy to correct or not, remains to be seen
I'm really not interested in the accidental cause as much as I am in the reasons for the spread (ala the Midway Jap disaster)
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From roughly when the fire started, go to 3.40 ish the radio conversations says there are munitions on board but not in the fire area but one floor above and some / good distance aft?. Appears to spread awful quick considering its a warship.
Here is an aerial photograph taken sometime yesterday:
Sad to see such a proud vessel in peril.
- Ed
Sad to see such a proud vessel in peril.
- Ed