USN - Was NOBODY shot watching?

[Fasglas]

Who's in charge here? Heads ARE gonna roll.

US Navy Ship loses anchor and chain - YouTube

[Thunder22]

13 years ago?

[mrvette]

OOOPS!!!!!!

[Aerovette]

I am ignorant about such things, but with all that tonnage of chain and anchor, how do you even know when the anchor hit bottom?

Also, what was the cause of losing the chain? Too much speed? Water too deep? No way to stop it?

[Fasglas]

Originally Posted by Thunder22

13 years ago?

Does that matter? Seriously?

[Fasglas]

Originally Posted by aerovette

I am ignorant about such things, but with all that tonnage of chain and anchor, how do you even know when the anchor hit bottom?

Also, what was the cause of losing the chain? Too much speed? Water too deep? No way to stop it?

FIRST is to ascertain how deep your intended anchorage is.

Each shot of chain is joined together with a detachable link.
One fathom equals 6 feet. There are 15 fathoms (90 feet) in a shot of anchor chain.
This method is used through the entire marking procedure alternating red, white and blue
for detachable links as appropriate

[DukeAllen]

Originally Posted by Fasglas

Does that matter? Seriously?

I know .gov moves slow, but surely even they've replaced the anchor after that many years.

[73sbVert]

Originally Posted by aerovette

I am ignorant about such things, but with all that tonnage of chain and anchor, how do you even know when the anchor hit bottom?

Also, what was the cause of losing the chain? Too much speed? Water too deep? No way to stop it?

The anchor must have hit bottom with the 3rd shot out. Did you hear them talking about 1 o'clock, heavy strain? That meant that the ship was pulling away from the anchorage pretty hard (in current) based on the amount of "droop" in the chain, and it was tending at 1 o'clock from the bow. Considering they used the port side anchor, then the chain must have crossed the ballast bulb (or sonar dome depending on class of ship this was on, I couldn't tell).

Unlike small boats, the anchor isn't used to hold the ship in position, it is only used to pull the anchor chain out and down. THAT is what holds the ship, all that chain laying on the bottom. If I recall correctly, the amount of chain required (at minimum) is 3 times the depth. If you are in 10 fathoms of water (60 ft), then you need 30 fathoms of chain, etc.

There must have been something wrong with the brake systems. The wildcat has both electrical AND mechanical brakes. Those 2 guys in the background cranking on that wheel were on the brake. It should NOT have taken so many turns on that to release/hold the brake. I have a feeling that the electric brake was overwhelmed by the speed of the chain and the mechanical brake failed totally because the guys on it kept cranking and it wasn't operating correctly. Should have only taken a few turns on it one way and the other (off/on).

My 2 cents...

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by Fasglas

FIRST is to ascertain how deep your intended anchorage is.

Each shot of chain is joined together with a detachable link.
One fathom equals 6 feet. There are 15 fathoms (90 feet) in a shot of anchor chain.
This method is used through the entire marking procedure alternating red, white and blue
for detachable links as appropriate

I understand how they can measure with markers. On a pleasure boat, you drop the anchor and you feel the rope slack and you know you are on bottom, Tons of chain with no sensation of slack is far different.

I would guess they know the depth in advance and release the appropriate amount of chain, but that is a guess on my part.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by 73sbVert

The anchor must have hit bottom with the 3rd fathom out. Did you hear them talking about 1 o'clock, heavy strain? That meant that the ship was pulling away from the anchorage pretty hard (in current) based on the amount of "droop" in the chain, and it was tending at 1 o'clock from the bow. Considering they used the port side anchor, then the chain must have crossed the ballast bulb (or sonar dome depending on class of ship this was on, I couldn't tell).

Unlike small boats, the anchor isn't used to hold the ship in position, it is only used to pull the anchor chain out and down. THAT is what holds the ship, all that chain laying on the bottom. If I recall correctly, the amount of chain required (at minimum) is 3 times the depth. If you are in 3 fathoms of water (18 ft), then you need 9 fathoms of chain.

There must have been something wrong with the brake systems. The wildcat has both electrical AND mechanical brakes. Those 2 guys in the background cranking on that wheel were on the brake. It should NOT have taken so many turns on that to release/hold the brake. I have a feeling that the electric brake was overwhelmed by the speed of the chain and the mechanical brake failed totally because the guys on it kept cranking and it wasn't operating correctly. Should have only taken a few turns on it one way and the other (off/on).

My 2 cents...

It did actually stop for a while.

[JRD77VET]

Originally Posted by 73sbVert

.............

Unlike small boats, the anchor isn't used to hold the ship in position, it is only used to pull the anchor chain out and down. THAT is what holds the ship, all that chain laying on the bottom. If I recall correctly, the amount of chain required (at minimum) is 3 times the depth. If you are in 10 fathoms of water (60 ft), then you need 30 fathoms of chain, etc.

.................................

My 2 cents...

Correct

Hopefully no one was hurt during that fiasco. That is some serious tonnage and momentum there