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| Fitzgerald's officer of the deck faces court-martial Tuesday for fatal collision |
| 2018-05-09 |
| [NAVY Times] The Navy on Monday released the first details regarding three junior officers charged for their alleged roles in the destroyer Fitzgerald’s collision with a merchant vessel last summer, an incident that killed seven sailors. Two of the officers remain unidentified, and Navy officials said their names will be made public at their hearing this week. Lt. j.g. Sarah Coppock was the officer of the deck, or OOD, early on June 17, when the Fitz was steaming off Japan, according to a charge sheet released by the service. She will face a special court-martial Tuesday in Washington and is charged with dereliction in the performance of duties through neglect resulting in death, according to the charge sheet. As OOD, Coppock oversaw ship navigation when the commanding officer was not present. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #7 I don't know squat about maritime matters, but don't these people hang out in what is referred to as 'the bridge.' Way up high somewheres, lots of windows, instruments, communications, plenty of coffee, etc ? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2018-05-09 07:49 |
| #6 Re: #4 - Yes, she definitely screwed up. She should have been aware of the the other ship. The Fitzgerald was hit on the starboard side, meaning she should have maneuvered to avoid. Why the Fitzgerald didn't is on the OOD's shoulders. The OOD should have notified the CO of the imminent collision. My bet is that one of the other two officers to be courtmartialed is the CIC watch officer, who should have notified the OOD that the merchant ship was on a collision course. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2018-05-09 07:47 |
| #5 IIRC the CincPac at the time has also been relieved, this being but one of the screw ups that accumulated on his watch. |
| Posted by: P2kontheroad 2018-05-09 07:41 |
| #4 Judgement withheld: a) did she mess up? b) is she a scapegoat c) all of the above? |
| Posted by: Grererong Bonaparte9840 2018-05-09 07:32 |
| #3 The senior officers (if I remember correctly) CO, XO and NAV, have all been disciplined. The OOD can be held more accountable because it was his/her direct actions (or lack of) that led to the tragedy. |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2018-05-09 05:34 |
| #2 No more senior officers facing CM? I run a business and when stuff my minions do, goes wrong it's on me. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2018-05-09 03:07 |
| #1 Is this the first female officer facing a special court martial? Or just the first I've noticed? |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2018-05-09 00:38 |