Forward Deployed Naval Forces

USS John McCain Back to Operations Almost 3 Years After Fatal Collision

Quartermaster 1st Class Byron Johnson, from Atlanta, notates in the decklog on the bridge of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) on May 22, 2020. US Navy Photo

The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) is resuming operations in 7th Fleet three years after a devastating collision killed 10 sailors.

Last week, the ship and the crew completed the six-month basic phase training, a key milestone before returning to the fleet.

“We’re back, and...

https://news.usni.org/2020/06/16/uss-john-mccain-back-to-operations-almost-3-years-after-fatal-collision

Top Stories 2019: Law, Policy and the Navy

This post is part of a series of review stories looking back at the top naval news from 2019.

The Gallagher Case, Aftermath

Arguably no criminal case has changed the Navy more than the service’s troubled prosecution of Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward Gallagher.

After an investigation sparked from complaints from fellow SEALs, the service charged Gallagher “with murder, attempted murder and a string of other alleged war crimes,” as part of a deployment in 2017 with SEAL Team 7, reported Navy...

https://news.usni.org/2020/01/02/top-stories-2019-law-policy-and-the-navy

Former USS Fitzgerald CO Benson to Retire as Commander Next Month

Cmdr. Bryce Benson, then-executive officer, assists in bringing down the battle ensign aboard USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) in 2016. US Navy Photo

The former commander of a guided-missile destroyer that was involved in a fatal collision in 2017 will retire at his current rank and will be eligible for retirement and medical benefits, his lawyer confirmed to USNI News on Wednesday.

Cmdr. Bryce Benson will retire from the Navy on Dec. 29 after a two-year legal battle with the Navy over his role in the...

https://news.usni.org/2019/11/20/former-uss-fitzgerald-co-benson-to-retire-as-commander-next-month

USS John S. McCain Back to Sea After Completing Repairs from Fatal 2017 Collision

USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) departs Fleet Activities Yokosuka to conduct comprehensive at-sea testing on Oct. 28, 2019. US Navy Photo

USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) is back at sea after completing repairs from a fatal 2017 collision off the coast of Singapore, U.S. 7th Fleet announced on late Sunday.

The guided-missile destroyer departed its pier at Fleet Activities Yokosuka around 11 a.m. local time on Monday and is currently headed out to open water, USNI News understands.

McCain has been in...

https://news.usni.org/2019/10/27/uss-john-s-mccain-back-to-sea-after-completing-repairs-from-fatal-2017-collision

NTSB Accident Report on Fatal 2017 USS John McCain Collision off Singapore

The following is the National Transportation Safety Board maritime accident report, Collision between US Navy Destroyer John S McCain and Tanker Alnic MC Singapore Strait, 5 Miles Northeast of Horsburgh Lighthouse August 21, 2017.

From the report

On August 21, 2017, the US Navy destroyer John S McCain was overtaking the Liberian-flagged tanker Alnic MC while both vessels were transiting the westbound lane in the Middle Channel passage of the Singapore Strait Traffic Separation Scheme. The...

https://news.usni.org/2019/08/06/ntsb-accident-report-on-fatal-2017-uss-john-mccain-collision-off-singapore

NTSB: Lack of Navy Oversight, Training Were Primary Causes of Fatal McCain Collision

Sailors assigned to the navigation department aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) look on as the ship arrives in Singapore to provide support to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG-56). US Navy Photo

Almost two years after the collision between a U.S. destroyer and a merchant ship off Singapore, the first in-depth independent investigation has determined the most probable cause for the incident that killed 10 sailors was lack of adequate...

https://news.usni.org/2019/08/06/ntsb-lack-of-navy-oversight-training-were-primary-causes-of-fatal-mccain-collision

Navy Adding Fourth Amphib to Japan-Based Fleet for Operational Flexibility; 1 DDG Leaving Japan

Amphibious assault vehicles depart the well deck aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) during Exercise Dawn Blitz 2015 (DB-15).
US Navy photo.

The Navy is adding a fourth amphibious ship to its forward-deployed fleet in Japan and is bringing home one of the destroyers that has been forward-deployed the longest, the service announced.

The service will now have two San Antonio-class amphibious landing docks in Japan, with the upcoming addition of USS New Orleans...

https://news.usni.org/2019/04/29/navy-adding-fourth-amphib-to-japan-based-fleet-for-operational-flexibility-1-ddg-leaving-japan

Former USS Fitzgerald CO Outlines Defense in Rebuttal to SECNAV

Cmdr. Bryce Benson, then-executive officer, assists in bringing down the battle ensign aboard USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) in 2016. US Navy Photo

The former commander of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) is pushing back against a rebuke from the Secretary of the Navy, disputing major facts in the service’s argument he was criminally negligent leading up the June 17, 2017, fatal collision, according to a copy of the April 26 rebuttal obtained by USNI News.

Earlier this month, Richard V. Spencer wrote that former

https://news.usni.org/2019/04/26/former-uss-fitzgerald-co-outlines-defense-in-rebuttal-to-secnav

Navy Set to Drop All Criminal Charges Against Fitzgerald CO, Junior Officer; SECNAV Will Issue Letters of Censure

USS Fitzgerald pierside at the U.S. naval base at Yokosuka, Japan in June 2017.

The Navy plans to drop all criminal charges against two officers for their roles in the 2017 fatal collision of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), USNI News has learned.

Former Fitzgerald commander Cmdr. Bryce Benson and tactical action officer Lt. Natalie Combs will no longer face criminal negligence charges for their roles and will instead be issued career-ending letters of censure from Secretary of the Navy Richard V....

https://news.usni.org/2019/04/10/navy-set-to-drop-all-criminal-charges-against-fitzgerald-co-junior-officer-secnav-will-issue-letters-of-censure

USS Fitzgerald CO, Junior Officer Receive Formal Censure Ahead Dismissal of Negligence Charges

USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) stands by before it is loaded onto the heavy lift transport vessel MV Transshelf in 2017. US Navy Photo

Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer has issued formal letters of censure to the former commander and tactical action officer of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) for their roles in the June 17, 2017, collision between a destroyer and a merchant ship.

In the letters dated April 9 to Cmdr. Bryce Benson and Lt. Natalie Combs, Spencer admonishes the pair for “incompetent...

https://news.usni.org/2019/04/11/uss-fitzgerald-co-junior-officer-ahead-dismissal-of-negligence-charges

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