US Navy Sacks Top 3 Commanders Of USS Fitzgerald Which Collided With Merchant Ship

The US Navy has sacked top three commanders of the guided Arleigh Burke class destroyer, USS Fitzgerald that was involved in a collision with a merchant ship leading to the death of seven sailors and millions in damages.

USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) commander Cmdr. Bryce Benson, executive officer Cmdr. Sean Babbitt and command master chief CMC Brice Baldwin were removed from their positions by U.S. 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin this week based on the early results of several investigations into the June 17 collision between the destroyer and the merchant ship ACX Crystal, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran was quoted as saying by USNI on Thursday.

The Filipino-flagged ACX Crystal collided with the USS Fitzgerald in the early hours of 17 June in Tokyo Bay, causing a large gash below the water line of the destroyer and flooding lower decks, BBC reported.

The US Navy has concluded that the injuries and death aboard USS Fitzgerald occurred in the line of duty. The US Navy has posthumously advanced the 7 sailors killed to the next rank.