ACP45 Loc: Rhode Island

As of this date, there is very little definitive information revealed about how such a collision (accident) between the USS Fitzgerald, and the cargo ship ACX Crystal could have occurred. Presumably the freighter was equipped with a t***sponder, and should have been squawking its position, speed and other relevant data automatically; Fitzgerald should have been reading and processing the information, also automatically, and making command decisions accordingly.

Here is what we do know:

1. (Automatic Identification System) is an automatic tracking system used for collision avoidance on ships. The container ship ACX Crystal uses AIS, whereas the USS Fitzgerald as a Naval vessel does not. We have the track of the ACX Crystal on the early morning of the collision but we cannot see where the USS Fitzgerald was in relation to the container ship. No doubt this will be revealed in the multiple ongoing investigations into the collision.

2. All warships have a minimum of three radars going at all times — including a scope on the bridge, which shows all ships and planes approaching the warship within 100-plus miles. In addition, sailors stand watch with binoculars on the warships bow 24/7.

As the object (plane or ship) gets closer to the warship, the radar operator reports every minute to the officer in charge. When the plane or ship gets on a collision course with the warship, all radar operators call attention to the possible collision. Immediately, the officer in charge gives the order to change course. The alarm should have been given at that time.

Here is what we don't know:

1. When did the accident occur - 1:30 AM as stated by the ACX Crystal, or 2:20 AM as stated by the US Navy?

Other Information

U.S. 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin said the following at a press conference in Yokosuka, "It’s still not entirely clear what caused the collision — and Aucoin wouldn’t elaborate — but Japanese authorities are investigating “endangerment of traffic caused by professional negligence,” Reuters reports." Japanese media also reported that the ACX Crystal made a “sharp turn” shortly before the pre-dawn crash, per The Guardian.

There is a discrepancy in the timeline, reported UK Daily Mail, with the company insisting the collision happened earlier than the Navy said it did. That’s critical because tracking sites show a sharp turn, but the earlier time frame would mean the ACX Crystal turned after the collision to see what happened, not before it. UK Daily Mail quoted one expert who said the ship may have been operating on autopilot.

Initial reports suggest that the collision occurred at 1:30 a.m., but the container ship crew did not automatically realize it had happened. The container ship turned back, and it appears the collision was then formally reported around 2:20 a.m. The US 7th Fleet is maintaining that the collision occurred at 2:20 a.m. -- and both US and Japanese officials have declined to explain why there is a discrepancy regarding timing.

The ACX Crystal sails under the f**g of the Philippines, and its home port is Manila, according to MarineTraffic.

Two Possible Scenerios

1. Gross incompetence or malfeasance on the part of the crew of the USS Fitzgerald
2. A terrorist act by a foreign power (possibly N Korea, or China)

After doing a lot of reading on this topic, I'm much more inclined to go with option #2.

First of all, you should be aware of the incident involving a Russian demonstration of their ability to incapacitate the USS Donald Cook - "In fact, the radar, navigational, communication and weapons systems of any warship can be incapacitated with the push of a button. The Russians proved that with the flyover of the USS Donald Cook in the Black Sea in April of 2014. Even the sailors who witnessed that unparalleled incident on the ship were profoundly affected.

According to some specialized media, 27 sailors from the USS Donald Cook requested to be relieved from active service.
(Source: What frightened the USS Donald Cook back to port in the Black Sea?) http://themillenniumreport.com/2014/11/what-frightened-the-uss-donald-cook-back-to-port-in-the-baltic-sea/

Here is a video reporting on the Russian Electronic Weapon Capability: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI4uS307ydk

Here are a few other factors to be aware of: 1) Since February, the USS Carl Vinzon has been conducting freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, particularly near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, an atoll located off Zambales which is now under de facto control of China. The USS Fitzgerald was part of that strike group, and spend several weeks in Subic Bay for repairs and maintenance. Since the ACX Crystal was a ship sailing under Philippine registry, it does raise the possibility of sabotage
by one or more of the local contractors. See https://youtu.be/YjagnUO2cP8


Lets take a look at this video showing the track of the ACX Crystal in this video: https://youtu.be/eANUtcpxL04

This video does a good job of pointing out the key discrepancy in the reported time-line between what the ACX reported and what the Navy reports.

Finally, there is the Chinese element to consider, which is explained in this article: http://www.thecommonsenseshow.com/2017/06/23/chinese-emp-hit-the-fitzgerald-nimitz-racing-to-scene-as-war-is-close/

So many questions, and so few answers. The big question is will the American public ever really be told the t***h?