The US Navy plans to remove from duty the commander of the fleet that has suffered four recent collisions in Asia and the deaths of a number of sailors, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing US officials.
Vice-Admiral Joseph Aucoin, the three-star commander of the US Seventh Fleet based in Yokosuka, Japan, was to be relieved of command on Wednesday in connection with four collisions since January, including two involving fatalities, two US officials said, according to the Journal. It said navy officials declined to comment.
In the latest incident on Monday, the USS John S McCain and the tanker Alnic MC collided near Singapore, tearing a hole in the warship’s side and flooding compartments that included a crew sleeping area. Ten sailors are reported missing.
US Navy and Marine Corps divers on Tuesday found what were termed human remains inside the guided-missile destroyer, said Admiral Scott Swift, the commander of the US Pacific Fleet.
“The divers were able to locate some remains in those sealed compartments during their search,” Swift told reporters at Singapore’s Changi Naval Base, where the vessel is docked for damage assessment.
An international search-and-rescue continues for the missing sailors.
If only the 5 trillion dollar of merchant cargo would give way to the US Navy, he would still have his job.
The general principle of national security is, "in war we fight to win, in peace we prepare our readiness." For the US Navy, that principle is " in war we fail, in peace we drink and sleep – the few and the proud!" What a waste of US Taxpayers’ dollar.
Agree as is, but that would not happen in East and SE Asia. It is clear that China may have won the 1st round of sea battle in SE Asia. Why? China can call any companies with ships to ACCIDENTALLY run into US Navy. The 1st phase of battle has already begun.
The commercial ships and fishingships constitute the first round of battle ships paid and hired by China. This tactic has not been taught at the US navy’s elits school at Maryland, USA! Hope the US 7th Fleet has learned its lessons now. Good thing that no big bomb blown up.