Details are scarce, but apparently there’s been another incident at sea.
The USS Guardian, an Avenger-class minesweeper, apparently has run aground in the Sulu Sea. Initial reports are that the ship hit a coral reef at 2:25AM (local) today.
The ship does not appear to be leaking fuel or taking water, and there were no casualties among the crew. At least, there were no physical casualties. Not sure you can say the same about careers.
The ship’s crew are reportedly presently trying to determine the best way to free the ship.
Shark species in the Sulu Sea:
Thresher sharks
Mako sharks
White tip sharks
Reef sharks
Tiger sharks
Whale sharks
Megamouth sharks
Manta rays
seems to me the Navy has the same problem that the Army does in terms of navigation. over and complete dependance on our electronic navigation devices.
I will never forget the time as a PL my Smoke and I decided to do some land nav training and I had a SPC come up to me and ask in all seriousness ask if i was stupid because i did not issue him a GPS so he had no way of finding points. this was AFTER we passed out compasses and we were nice and used Lensatic compasses not M2 ones.
Hell i have seen Basic trainees doing “land nav” land nav is not land nav if you are doing it with 3 other people. at least officers had to pass a land nav course prior to commissioning (a really insanely easy one but still) and at BOLC (at least arty bolc). we are fucked if we ever lose batteries and our electronics. sounds just like us the Navy needs to get back to basics.
Attention on deck!
The USS Guardian is now taking on water. Crew has left the building. A rear admiral is in charge of salvage. Read this and weep about your tax dollars at work.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2013/01/dn-stranded-navy-minesweeper-taking-on-water-012013/
Note that the image clearly shows the reef boundary and deep water.
‘Drivin’ a ship ain’t like street drag racin’, boy. You watch the GPS instead of where you’re going and you end up stuck on a reef.’
WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO SEAMANSHIP????????????????????
Hell PH2, TRUE seamanship ain’t gonna be found in today’s Navy.
Well, I found this article. The ship’s crew were warned that they were nearing the reef by the Tubbataha park management, but ignored the warning and told the park management to contact the US embassy.
Part of this is in either Pilipino or Tagalog:
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/uss-guardian-ignored-warnings-nearing-reef-tubbataha-management-023035037.html
This gets better all the time. The photos clearly show that the edge of the reef is about thirty feet from the side of the ship.
http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/20/16613592-report-reef-bound-navy-ship-takes-on-water?lite
And now, it’s taking on water. Congratulations, techlovers in the military. You just cost the taxpayers another $XXX million out of sheer stupidity and thinking that the old-fashioned way of doing things is obsolete.
The Navy.
Ha Ha.
Just kidding…..
Maybe.
Thank you for your links Kickettes!!