A little after 1:30 a.m. on June 17, 2017, Alexander Vaughan tumbled from his bunk onto the floor of his sleeping quarters on board the Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald. The shock of cold, salty water snapped him awake. He struggled to his feet and felt a torrent rushing past his thighs. Around him, sailors were […]
Court-Martial of USS Fitzgerald Commander No Longer Valid…
The court-martial of Cmdr. Bryce Benson, who was the commanding officer of the USS Fitzgerald when it was involved in a deadly 2017 collision, has taken a new turn. A military judge has disqualified Navy Adm. Frank Caldwell from serving as the convening authority in Benson’s case, effectively pausing the legal action against him and […]
Photo Emerges That Might Exonerate USS Fitzgerald Defendant…
In a surprise move during a Tuesday hearing in a Washington Navy Yard courtroom, defense attorneys representing Lt. Natalie Combs held up a new piece of evidence that might exonerate her at her upcoming court-martial trial. It’s a photograph — a still image captured from digital footage recorded by an aft Vertical Launching System camera […]
Worse Than You Thought: Inside the Secret USS Fitzgerald Probe the Navy Doesn’t Want You to Read…
FLASHBACK: ‘Water on Deck!’ ‘Get Out!’–The Navy’s Official Report of the USS Fitzgerald’s Catastrophe at Sea…
Former Fitzgerald, McCain COs Face Negligent Homicide, Dereliction of Duty Charges over Fatal Collisions…
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. Cmdr. Bryce Benson, former commander of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), along with three Fitzgerald junior officers, face a […]
Bridge, Crewmembers’ Errors Led to Deaths Aboard 2 Navy Destroyers…
The two collisions that killed a combined 17 sailors aboard the destroyers USS Fitzgerald and USS John S. McCain resulted from sailors not following procedures and lack of communication between officers and the rest of the ship, a Navy report released Wednesday concluded. Watch-standers aboard USS Fitzgerald were not paying attention to the right-hand side […]
Navy Relieves Two More Commanders in 7th Fleet After Deadly Collisions…
The Navy relieved two more commanders in 7th Fleet on Monday amid fallout from two deadly collisions involving the destroyers USS Fitzgerald and USS John S. McCain. Task Force 70 commander Rear Adm. Charles Williams and Destroyer Squadron 15 commander Capt. Jeffrey Bennett were both relieved of command by 7th Fleet…
Navy to Remove 7th Fleet Commander Following Fitzgerald, McCain Collisions…
The Navy intends to remove Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, the three-star commander of the 7th Fleet, from his position amid an investigation into four incidents involving the crucial Pacific battle group that resulted in the deaths of multiple sailors, the Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 22. News of Aucoin’s ouster amid…
