Collision Report for USS Fitzgerald and USS John S McCain Collisions

[Y-Body]

If this scenario is true, the USS John S McCain collision was a royal cluster f**k.
Confusion Over Steering Put USS McCain on Deadly Collision Course

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Investigators found confusion and lack of sufficient knowledge led to the steering errors that ultimately caused the collision.

Several sailors on watch, they found, had been temporarily assigned from the cruiser Antietam, which has a significantly different steering control system, and they lacked the training to compensate for the differences. Four different stations could have taken control of steering when it was declared lost, but no one did.

"Multiple bridge watchstanders lacked a basic level of knowledge on the steering control system, in particular the transfer of steering and thrust control between stations," investigators found.
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Another release with maps, photos and videos:
Collision Report

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"Both of these accidents were preventable and the respective investigations found multiple failures by watch standers that contributed to the incidents," said Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson. "We must do better."
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[vetteman9368]

Just out of curiousity, how many different ways can you steer a boat? Did it have a tiller? Two sticks like a bulldozer? If it’s got a wheel, it ought to be pretty ****ing obvious.

[John Wiz]

Originally Posted by vetteman9368

Just out of curiousity, how many different ways can you steer a boat? Did it have a tiller? Two sticks like a bulldozer? If it’s got a wheel, it ought to be pretty ****ing obvious.

No, generally they have primary steering over a network with a secondary hardwired connection as a backup. In the event of a casualty, they need to shift over to the secondary link.

Bottom line increased optempo, and lack of training created these events. The ships are spending too much time at sea due to a lack of ships, and we are not doing enough training for the crews.

Whenever budgets get cut, the first thing out the window is training. We have highly capable, advanced ships - and we're not training the crews how to use them.

[09CTSV]

If I remember correctly you have two DMS channels, a hard wire, potentiometer in after steering and the hand wheels for each rudder unit.

[JRD77VET]

Originally Posted by 09CTSV

If I remember correctly you have two DMS channels, a hard wire, potentiometer in after steering and the hand wheels for each rudder unit.

and if you think somebody else will take control and no one does .....