Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2014 10:33:52 GMT -6
In may of 2012 there was a fire at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Fires happen and they are sometimes tragic accidents. This one wasn't. This one was set by someone who thought his need to go home early justified risking the deaths of firemen, workers and sailors at the dry dock. It was arson.
However, findings by Naval investigators have concluded that aside from the obvious criminal action, outright complacency led to the loss of the Los Angeles class attack submarine.
As the story notes, the Sub wasn't directly lost to the fire, but the damage was so extensive that a near $1 Billion initial repair cost was simply not realistic in any way. It was scrapped for the economics of it.
More to the point though, they found the Firefighters working the shipyard had no idea of the layout to the Miami, or a similar submarine. (Odd...you'd think that would be part of training..) Oh.. did I say training? They didn't have much of that, either.
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I suppose I can understand their failure to incorporate past lessons. After all, how can you incorporate lessons into training you never bother to actually DO? 5 YEARS without live fire training? What the heck did they do? Play video game simulators and talk over table top scenarios as firefighters??
Folks suggest we have a super-advanced and world leading military. I look at stories like this, which already deal with one of the most sensitive and high security areas of the U.S. Military (The Submarine Service) and think....We *USED* to have a very capable and advanced military.
Now? We have the appearances, but it doesn't make the trip when the situation calls for it. What a loss and what a waste of a perfectly good submarine.
However, findings by Naval investigators have concluded that aside from the obvious criminal action, outright complacency led to the loss of the Los Angeles class attack submarine.
It took 12 hours and the efforts of more than 100 firefighters to save the Groton, Connecticut-based USS Miami after a worker who wanted to go home early set a small fire that quickly spread. Though the sub was saved, the Navy ultimately decided to scrap it after the repair bill hit $700 million.
The fire severely damaged living quarters, the command and control center and a torpedo room, but it did not reach the nuclear propulsion components. Seven people were hurt dousing the flames.
The fire severely damaged living quarters, the command and control center and a torpedo room, but it did not reach the nuclear propulsion components. Seven people were hurt dousing the flames.
As the story notes, the Sub wasn't directly lost to the fire, but the damage was so extensive that a near $1 Billion initial repair cost was simply not realistic in any way. It was scrapped for the economics of it.
More to the point though, they found the Firefighters working the shipyard had no idea of the layout to the Miami, or a similar submarine. (Odd...you'd think that would be part of training..) Oh.. did I say training? They didn't have much of that, either.
A regional assessment of the 26-person shipyard fire department was conducted in October 2011 and found them to be fully ready, despite the department having conducted no live fire training since 2006, the report said.
While the report cited lack of readiness by firefighters, the Navy also said it was to blame for failing to incorporate lessons learned from past fires into training.
While the report cited lack of readiness by firefighters, the Navy also said it was to blame for failing to incorporate lessons learned from past fires into training.
I suppose I can understand their failure to incorporate past lessons. After all, how can you incorporate lessons into training you never bother to actually DO? 5 YEARS without live fire training? What the heck did they do? Play video game simulators and talk over table top scenarios as firefighters??
Folks suggest we have a super-advanced and world leading military. I look at stories like this, which already deal with one of the most sensitive and high security areas of the U.S. Military (The Submarine Service) and think....We *USED* to have a very capable and advanced military.
Now? We have the appearances, but it doesn't make the trip when the situation calls for it. What a loss and what a waste of a perfectly good submarine.