In the summer of 2017 two US Navy destroyers, the USS Fitzgerald and the USS McCain, were severely damaged in separate collisions with commercial vessels operating in busily trafficked waters. Seven sailors died on Fitzgerald and ten on McCain. The US Navy commissioned multiple reports and investigations, some of which were classified and some of which had legal implications and were not suitable for public dissemination. Accordingly, the Chief of Naval Operations commissioned two reports to summarize findings for the public and important stakeholders. They comprise this publication.
The reports include 40+ color photographs and illustrations, a detailed chronology and breakdown of each accident, an analysis of root causes, and recommendations for remedial action.
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires that each federal agency maintain an electronic Reading Room with most frequently requested documents. The FOIA Reading Room series of which this is the first volume presents highlights from those collections.
This publication will be gripping reading for any reader interested in accounts of loss and heroism at sea, and will be fascinating to viewers who enjoy programs like Aviation Disasters, Challenger on Netflix, and NCIS.