The U.S. Navy announced Tuesday that the commanding officers of two vessels involved in separate collisions in the Pacific Ocean last year will face court-martial proceedings and possible criminal charges including negligent homicide.
The statement by Navy spokesman Capt. Greg Hicks says the decision to prosecute the commanders, and several lower-ranking officers as well, was made by Adm. Frank Caldwell.
As the Two-Way reported:
In both cases, the 300-crew destroyers collided with ships more than three times their size in gross tonnage.
A Navy investigation completed in November 2017 determined that both accidents were "avoidable" and reflected "multiple failures by watch standers."
In the case of the USS Fitzgerald, the commander, two lieutenants and one lieutenant junior grade face possible charges of dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel and negligent homicide.
The commander of the USS John S. McCain will face possible charges of dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel and negligent homicide. A chief petty officer also faces one possible charge of dereliction of duty.
The Navy's statement says:
The USS John S. McCain was named for two men, the father and grandfather of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. He said after the investigation was released that the accidents reflected a lack of "sufficient training and equipment and readiness."
