USS Bonhomme Richard burns

[ThatOwlWoman]

Obama did cut back a lot on the military.

And #TRE45ON supposedly restored it.

So just where DID all the money allocated to the defense budget go, eh? Something tells me that the Navy cutting back on repair, maintenance, etc. is not because the funding isn't there. It's because someone's skimming.

[Sailor]

And #TRE45ON supposedly restored it.

So just where DID all the money allocated to the defense budget go, eh? Something tells me that the Navy cutting back on repair, maintenance, etc. is not because the funding isn't there. It's because someone's skimming.

Democrats probably funneled it to BLM or something.....

[ThatOwlWoman]

Democrats probably funneled it to BLM or something.....

*sigh* No, they didn't.

This incident didn't have to happen. As a taxpayer, I want to know that what we're paying in is going where it's supposed to, so shit like this doesn't happen. Thank the gods the personnel were able to evacuate and that no one was killed.

[Sailor]

*sigh* No, they didn't.

This incident didn't have to happen. As a taxpayer, I want to know that what we're paying in is going where it's supposed to, so shit like this doesn't happen. Thank the gods the personnel were able to evacuate and that no one was killed.

I agree. Thank you for thinking that. Government budgets and monies disappear down the rabbit hole all the time. I would like to know where it all really is going also.

[ThatOwlWoman]

I agree. Thank you for thinking that. Government budgets and monies disappear down the rabbit hole all the time. I would like to know where it all really is going also.

You know, we are all on the same side. If we truly are the bestest and richest and most amazing nation ever to infec... er, grace this planet, it's about fucking time we start acting like it.

[Sailor]

You know, we are all on the same side. If we truly are the bestest and richest and most amazing nation ever to infec... er, grace this planet, it's about fucking time we start acting like it.

I tend to agree with that also. That is my limit for my for month!

[ThatOwlWoman]

I tend to agree with that also. That is my limit for my for month!

Stay well, my friend, and live long and prosper.

[Sailor]

Stay well, my friend, and live long and prosper.

You too.

[T. A. Gardner]

My bet:

The ship was in an upkeep period. I bet there were welders aboard, most likely from NASSCO the yard next door to the NOB where the ship is tied up. They likely caused a fire and the idiot sailor on firewatch wasn't doing his job, particularly as it was on a weekend. Firewatch is a boring job usually run by Petty Officers seconded to that duty and the actual firewatch sailors are almost entirely non-rates (E-1 to -3) who were sent TAD to firewatch duty because their division didn't need them as they were lazy F ups in any case.

All you need is for the ones assigned to the welders to be sleeping, left their post to go to the head, eat, or just go to their rack instead, and you get this. The welders get paid to weld and that's what they're going to do, firewatch or no firewatch. They aren't in the Navy, they're civilians. They get off the hook because it was the Navy's responsibility to put the firewatch in place. The LPO of the duty section has on a ship that size maybe 20 + sailors for firewatch on a weekend and they can't possibly monitor all of them after assigning them to a yard worker. They have to stay in the firewatch compartment where they assign the individuals.

So, you have a lazy F up who really doesn't give a $h!+ anyway supposedly watching for a fire because of the welding. It could be that they are assigned to the far side of a bulkhead and are all by themselves in the compartment. Perfect conditions to blow off your watch and catch some Z's.

That'd be my guess. It usually is in these situations.

Oh, it looks worse than it is too. There's plenty of smoke but that doesn't equal plenty of fire. A relatively small fire in one compartment can do that.

[Hawkeye10]

While the cause of the fire is under investigation, we already know that shipyard fires are a serious problem for the U.S. Navy right now. Multiple fires have broken out in U.S. Navy ships undergoing maintenance over the past several months, and, rather than make changes, the U.S. Navy seems to have chosen to ignore the problem, happier to gloat and point fingers as shipyard fires nearly sank Russia’s Admiral Kuznetsov in 2019 and one of China’s new Type 075 big-deck amphibious assault ships earlier this year. The U.S. Navy’s failure to act—even after several warnings and close calls—is inexplicable and inexcusable.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/craigho.../#748314b176a9

The problem of course is the leadership apparently feels that they have no other option but to keep cutting corners trying to push jobs through fast, because of lack of capacity.

[Hawkeye10]

General Dynamics‘ (NYSE: GD) national steel and shipbuilding business has landed a potential two-year, $249.1M contract to provide maintenance, modernization and repair services in support of the U.S. Navy‘s USS Bonhomme Richard.

Services under the firm-fixed-price contract are intended to support the amphibious assault ship’s docking phased maintenance availability for fiscal year 2018, the Defense Department said Thursday.

The contract holds a $218.7M base value and options that would access the award’s maximum monetary amount.

The Navy will initially obligate $218.7M in fiscal 2018 other procurement funds, $161.7M of which will expire as the current fiscal year concludes.

Work will take place in San Diego through May 2020.

https://www.govconwire.com/2018/09/g...-availability/

So in addition to likely destroying the vessel they were running behind schedule.

[Hawkeye10]

The lack of suitable and stable funding has a lot to do with it too....that is almost all on the back of Congress.

Thanks for the likes...I have most certainly noticed you.

EDIT: That belongs to Sailor....who has been impressive....I am really too wasted to operate at the moment....but I am trying.

[crowonapost]

What 2 headed hydra party will we blame today?

Idiots.

[Hawkeye10]

What 2 headed hydra party will we blame today?

Idiots.

YA Good Point.....the chances that those who are responsible will be held accountable for losing this extremely valuable asset are near zero....because yes cupcake....America does actually suck this badly now.

The New Chinese Empire cant wait to end us as a power that anyone cares about.

We are helping them.

[crowonapost]

YA Good Point.....the chances that those who are responsible will be held accountable for losing this extremely valuable asset are near zero....because yes cupcake....America does actually suck this badly now.

The New Chinese Empire cant wait to end us as a power that anyone cares about.

We are helping them.

I think we are.