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Latest on the U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard fire | Would be one of largest ships Navy has lost
Posted on 7/13/20 at 10:50 pm
Posted on 7/13/20 at 10:50 pm
Reading this article from the San Diego Union-Tribune, you get an idea of how devastating this loss could be.
A few items of note:
—————
:: That the Bonhomme Richard appears to have escaped without fatalities also explains why the fire has been so hard to put out—hardly anyone was on board when it started.
:: “As counter-intuitive as this sounds, I would much rather fight a fire at sea with a whole crew than fight it dockside,” said Bryan McGrath, a retired Navy commander. “The ability to act quickly with a massive response and inhibit the spread is aided when you have all your people.”
:: Some military experts believe the Bonhomme Richard can’t be saved, and if that’s the case, the mini-aircraft carrier — it was being retrofitted to deploy the latest-generation fighter jets — would be among the largest Navy ships ever lost.
:: “We obviously don’t know yet what happened here, but the dangers in the industrial environment are well-understood,” McGrath said. “Crews are grinding, welding, chipping — all those activities have the capacity to start a fire, and a ship is full of flammable materials.”
:: “it’s not like a structural fire; you can’t just pour water on it from the outside,” he said. “You have to be inside where the fire is, get to the source of it.”
:: Also to be determined is the fate of the ship, which cost $761 million, according to estimates by the Federation of American Scientists, and was at the end of a two-year, $250 million upgrade. Navy officials said they are hopeful it will sail again, but some military observers — noting the extensive damage so far, including the collapse of the forward mast — believe it will have to be scrapped.
:: Even if the ship is saved, it will be out of action for an extended period, and that will limit what the Navy can do in deploying its forces. The Bonhomme Richard was being upgraded to accommodate the F-35B fighter, one of a handful of amphibious assault ships so equipped.
:: “Losing that ship, even if it’s just for a while — it’s a big deal,” McGrath said.
A few items of note:
—————
:: That the Bonhomme Richard appears to have escaped without fatalities also explains why the fire has been so hard to put out—hardly anyone was on board when it started.
:: “As counter-intuitive as this sounds, I would much rather fight a fire at sea with a whole crew than fight it dockside,” said Bryan McGrath, a retired Navy commander. “The ability to act quickly with a massive response and inhibit the spread is aided when you have all your people.”
:: Some military experts believe the Bonhomme Richard can’t be saved, and if that’s the case, the mini-aircraft carrier — it was being retrofitted to deploy the latest-generation fighter jets — would be among the largest Navy ships ever lost.
:: “We obviously don’t know yet what happened here, but the dangers in the industrial environment are well-understood,” McGrath said. “Crews are grinding, welding, chipping — all those activities have the capacity to start a fire, and a ship is full of flammable materials.”
:: “it’s not like a structural fire; you can’t just pour water on it from the outside,” he said. “You have to be inside where the fire is, get to the source of it.”
:: Also to be determined is the fate of the ship, which cost $761 million, according to estimates by the Federation of American Scientists, and was at the end of a two-year, $250 million upgrade. Navy officials said they are hopeful it will sail again, but some military observers — noting the extensive damage so far, including the collapse of the forward mast — believe it will have to be scrapped.
:: Even if the ship is saved, it will be out of action for an extended period, and that will limit what the Navy can do in deploying its forces. The Bonhomme Richard was being upgraded to accommodate the F-35B fighter, one of a handful of amphibious assault ships so equipped.
:: “Losing that ship, even if it’s just for a while — it’s a big deal,” McGrath said.
This post was edited on 7/13/20 at 11:04 pm
10
Posted on 7/13/20 at 10:57 pm to EKG
The loss of the ship is devastating but honestly isn't that huge of a long term issue. It might mess up a few deployments and tax a few other ships a little more but the Navy has 8 other large deck amphibs. It is currently building two more.
If anything, the Wasp/Essex will just have their life cycles extended a couple years until a replacement is built.
If anything, the Wasp/Essex will just have their life cycles extended a couple years until a replacement is built.
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:00 pm to TigerCruise
$761 million
That’s a bad day at the office.
Reminds me of those Southwest Airlines commercials ... “Wanna get away?”
That’s a bad day at the office.
Reminds me of those Southwest Airlines commercials ... “Wanna get away?”
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:09 pm to EKG
At this pount, can they sink it or partially sink it to put the fire out, then raise it to scuttle or repair it later? Seems like fire hoses have been ineffective.
Isn't there a million gallons of fuel on board they are worried about igniting?
Isn't there a million gallons of fuel on board they are worried about igniting?
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:10 pm to EKG
We don’t win anymore. Our navy has been reduced to rubble
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:13 pm to EKG
Is this thing even burning?
I dont see anymore smoke
I dont see anymore smoke
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:17 pm to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
quote:
At this pount, can they sink it or partially sink it to put the fire out, then raise it to scuttle or repair it later? Seems like fire hoses have been ineffective.
They can do that, and probably will, if they can't get it under control pretty soon. The ship will still be considered a total loss though, because you would have to almost completely dismantle it, in order to rebuild it. It's easier to build a new boat.
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:18 pm to TigerCruise
quote:
If anything, the Wasp/Essex will just have their life cycles extended a couple years until a replacement is built.
America Class is already underway. LHA 6 America, and LHA 7 Tripoli are already in service. LHA 8 Bougainville was laid down last year. Tarawa Class LHA's Peleliu and Nassau are being held in reserve. One or both could be brought back into service if needed.
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:20 pm to EKG
quote:
$761 million
That’s a bad day at the office.
That's the price when it was launched in the 90's. It's successor class costs closer to two billion apiece, and doesn't have the rear well deck. The America Class is air launch only.
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:24 pm to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
quote:
Isn't there a million gallons of fuel on board they are worried about igniting?
If they sink it and the fuel is released into the San Diego harbor there is a bigger PR problem than a ship burning at the pier. If the fuel burns there is no visible environmental damage.
Thankfully there are no major injuries, it cost the US taxpayers quite a bit of money for something that was completely avoidable.
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:24 pm to EKG
quote:
“Crews are grinding, welding, chipping — all those activities have the capacity to start a fire, and a ship is full of flammable materials.”
I own a heavy equipment dealership. Whenever we are doing this kind of stuff, we have a guy standing by with a fire extinguisher in hand. Sparks and all sorts of fuel, oil, and grease are just asking for an outcome like this.
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:30 pm to SDVTiger
Still burnin’ ....
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:31 pm to EKG
Wow.
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:32 pm to Ag Zwin
quote:
I own a heavy equipment dealership. Whenever we are doing this kind of stuff, we have a guy standing by with a fire extinguisher in hand. Sparks and all sorts of fuel, oil, and grease are just asking for an outcome like this.
They hire people to do this on the ship also. As I explained in another thread, they hire helpers and fire watch people from the local labor hall. These people are worthless and have no skills, or interest in anything that is going on. They are mostly thugs and women, looking for an easy job. They sit on a bucket all day, playing on their phones, sleeping, and many of the women have a hiding place where they sell BJs.
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:35 pm to Ag Zwin
quote:
I own a heavy equipment dealership. Whenever we are doing this kind of stuff, we have a guy standing by with a fire extinguisher in hand. Sparks and all sorts of fuel, oil, and grease are just asking for an outcome like this.
In the marine world, this is called hot work, and a fire watch is required on both sides of the adjacent compartments. Someone failed, likely a contract employee and their supervisors, and safety officers.
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:38 pm to SeaBass23
How high up the chain of command would a person be held responsible for an incident like this?
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:39 pm to EKG
quote:
the ship, which cost $761 million
I hope we had full coverage on that thing.
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:40 pm to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
quote:
At this pount, can they sink it or partially sink it to put the fire out, then raise it to scuttle or repair it later? Seems like fire hoses have been ineffective. Isn't there a million gallons of fuel on board they are worried about igniting?
They're not going to scuttle it at the pier to extinguish the fire. Way too many problems with that scenario.
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:40 pm to Ag Zwin
They have this too. It’s called a fire watch. The problem is they hire the cheapest labor they can find and many are unqualified to even stand there looking for fires.
Posted on 7/13/20 at 11:42 pm to OysterPoBoy
quote:
I hope we had full coverage on that thing.
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