The US navy has issued non-judicial punishments to four more sailors over the two fatal collisions involving ‘USS Fitzgerald’ and ‘USS John S. McCain’ in summer 2017, according to senior service officials as quoted by USNI news.
‘USS Fitzgerald‘ collided with ‘ACX Crystal’ on 17 June 2017 in Japanese waters, causing death of seven crew. ‘USS John S. McCain‘ collided with the chemical tanker ‘Alnic MC’ on 21 August 2017 in the Straits of Singapore and resulted in the deaths of 10 sailors.
The punishments were issued as a result from six non-judicial punishment hearings by the navy leadership in Yokosuka, Japan, on 25 January, related to the collisions that resulted in death of 17 sailors.
The head of Naval Reactors Adm. James F. Caldwell found then-Fitzgerald executive officer Cmdr. Sean Babbitt and command master chief CMC Brice Baldwin guilty of dereliction of duty that resulted in the Fitzgerald collision in June of the coast of Japan that killed seven sailors. Both were issued a punitive letter of reprimands. They were removed from their positions on the destroyer in mid-August along with Fitzgerald commander Cmdr. Bryce Benson.
In relation to John S. McCain collision with merchant tanker off Singapore in August, he dismissed the NJP charges against one officer and one enlisted crew member. The second enlisted member was found guilty of violating Article 92 (dereliction in the performance of duties) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and was awarded a punitive letter of reprimand, forfeiture of a half month‘s pay for two months and reduction in rate to the next inferior paygrade. The forfeiture of pay and reduction in rate were suspended for a period of six months.
In total, 17 sailors have been issued non-judicial punishment on charges related to the two collisions, USNI reported.
In addition to announcing the NJP hearings, the service gave the dates for the Article 32 preliminary hearings for negligent homicide, dereliction of duty and hazarding a ship charges for the former commander and three sailors on Fitzgerald and the former commander of McCain.
Former McCain CO Cmdr. Alfredo J. Sanchez will appear before a military judge at the Washington Navy Yard on 6 March. Former Fitzgerald CO Benson will appear on 7 March, and three Fitzgerald officers will appear on 8 March in a joint hearing, according a navy official statement as cited by USNI.
