Bonhomme Richard Fire - Naval Leaders Reprimanded 7/15/22

[Disp51]

Navy Leaders Reprimanded for Fire that Gutted Bonhomme Richard Warship

The Navy focused punishments on Bonhomme Richard's leadership and its fire response team in the wake of the worst warship fire outside of combat in recent history.

www.military.com

 

[mack]

A lot of leaders punished but still seems lenient for losing a $2.5 billion dollar world class carrier. The Navy is going after the enlisted sailor who allegedly started the fire - and probably rightly so. But there does seem there was command complacency and maybe negligence for firefighting planning and operations. Maybe for lack of discipline and lack of security precautions. I am surprised no reductions, no firings. Military leaders have had more severe punishments for significantly lesser losses. The USS Forrestal fire in 1967 off the coast of Vietnam resulted in significant changes in Navy fire safety policy. Hopefully the BHR carrier fire will also result in similar changes to prevent serious ship fires.

 

[grumpy grizzly]

A lot of leaders punished but still seems lenient for losing a $2.5 billion dollar world class carrier. The Navy is going after the enlisted sailor who allegedly started the fire - and probably rightly so. But there does seem there was command complacency and maybe negligence for firefighting planning and operations. Maybe for lack of discipline and lack of security precautions. I am surprised no reductions, no firings. Military leaders have had more severe punishments for significantly lesser losses. The USS Forrestal fire in NYC resulted in significant changes in Navy fire safety policy. Hopefully the BHR carrier fire will also result in similar changes to prevent serious ship fires.

If I remember correctly during the Forrestal incident the second, and more powerful, explosion killed most of the trained fire fighting crews. Other sailors heroically grabbed the hose lines and fought the fires. Sadly because of inexperience and no training the water just washed away whatever foam was still being applied. Also, in WWII crews were taught ship-board firefighting at the Boston Navy Yard by the Boston jakes. And as far as punishment goes, won't committing adultery still get you court-martialed?

 

[entropychaser]

A lot of leaders punished but still seems lenient for losing a $2.5 billion dollar world class carrier. The Navy is going after the enlisted sailor who allegedly started the fire - and probably rightly so. But there does seem there was command complacency and maybe negligence for firefighting planning and operations. Maybe for lack of discipline and lack of security precautions. I am surprised no reductions, no firings. Military leaders have had more severe punishments for significantly lesser losses. The USS Forrestal fire in NYC resulted in significant changes in Navy fire safety policy. Hopefully the BHR carrier fire will also result in similar changes to prevent serious ship fires.

You have this confused with the old Navy that concerned itself with discipline, good order, and war fighting.

 

[mack]

July 29, 1967 Fire on US carrier kills 134 sailors and marines.

Rocket causes deadly fire on aircraft carrier | July 29, 1967 | HISTORY

A fire on a United States Navy carrier stationed off the coast of Vietnam kills 134 service members on July 29, 1967. The deadly fire on the USS Forrestal began with the accidental launch of a rocket. During the Vietnam War, the USS Forrestal was often stationed off the coast of North Vietnam...

www.history.com

 

[mack]

December 19, 1960 US Constellation fire - another Navy aircraft fire - NYC - Kills 50

1960 — Dec 19, Fire, USS Constellation (under construction) NY Naval Shipyard, NY– 50 – Deadliest American Disasters and Large-Loss-of-Life Events

www.usdeadlyevents.com

1960: USS Constellation Catches Fire at the Brooklyn Navy Yard | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News

www.wnyc.org

 

[mack]

http://www.fdnysbravest.com/Div7NewsletterNov2017.pdf

 

[entropychaser]

The first US Navy shipboard firefighting school was started in 1942 by Francis Brannigan in the Panama Canal Zone. He later taught at the school in Norfolk. You are correct Grump. I had an old friend on the job in Pittsburgh who was stationed there during the war. He told me the CO was a District Chief from Boston. I would think that all naval officers assigned to damage control trained there.
As an aside, prior to WWI, gunners assigned to enclosed gun turrets were issued anti-flash gear (hoods and goggles) for safety. It would take the fire service another half century to get them.